Synthesis and Characterisation of the Sodium and Lithium Cryptates of Macrobicyclic Ligands incorporating pyridine, bipyridine, and biisoquinoline units
of the macrabicyclic ligands 1–11 containing pyridine, bipyridine, and biisoquinoline groups. They involve stepwise construction of the bicyclic system as will as direct macrobicyclisation procedures (Scheme 1) and give access to both symmetrical and dissymmetrical structures. Marked cation template effects have been found that facilitate the cyclisation processes. The ligands 1–11 were isolated as