lariat ethers have been synthesized. These macrocycles and their derivatives proved to be efficient catalysts in the cyclopropanation of (E)-3-phenyl-2-(phenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrile performed with diethyl bromomalonate under mild phase transfer conditions. Among the catalysts tested, the macrocycle having methylα-d-galactopyranoside unit generated the highest asymmetric induction (80% ee). In the
1,7-octadiene derivatives 6a−k, in good to high yields. The reaction of certain imines 9 with 4 and 5a under similar conditions as above afforded the bis-allylated amines, N-allyl-N-3-butene-1-amine derivatives 10a−f, in good to high yields. The bis-allylation reactions most probably proceed through bis-π-allylpalladium intermediate 2. The above intermolecular bis-allylation was extended to the intramolecular