Cyclen (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) is a aza-crown ether with the formula (CH2CH2NH)4. It is a white solid. Being structurally simple, symmetrical, and polyfunctional, cyclen has been widely investigated.[1]
Synthesis
Some syntheses exploit the Thorpe-Ingold effect to facilitate ring-formation. Illustrative is the reaction of the deprotonated tosylamides with ditosylates:[2]
Coordination complexes of cyclen have been studied extensively.[5][6] With a 12-membered ring, it tends to bind to four contiguous sites on octaheral metal centers. In contrast the larger cyclam ligand tens to form attach to four coplanar sites. It also forms complexes of the type [Ln(cyclen)2]3+ where Ln = lanthanide.[7]
^Atkins, T. J.; Richman, J. E.; Oettle, W. F. (1978). "1,4,7,10,13,16-Hexaazacyclooctadecane". Org. Synth. 58: 86. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.058.0086.
^Reed, David P.; Weisman, Gary R. (2002). "1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane". Org. Synth. 78: 73. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.078.0073.
^Scott, Brian; Brewer, Karen J.; Spreer, Larry O.; Craig, Carl A.; Otvos, John W.; Calvin, Melvin; Taylor, Scott (1990). "A Novel Conformation for a Coordinated Macrocycle: The Crystal Structure of [Ni(12-aneN4)(OH2)2](CIO4)2·H2O; (12-aneN4= 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane)". Journal of Coordination Chemistry. 21 (4): 307–313. doi:10.1080/00958979009408193.
^Gunnlaugsson, Thorfinnur; Leonard, Joseph P. (2005). "Responsive lanthanide luminescent cyclen complexes: From switching/Sensing to supramolecular architectures". Chemical Communications (25): 3114–3131. doi:10.1039/b418196d. PMID15968347.
^Joshi, Tanmaya; Graham, Bim; Spiccia, Leone (2015). "Macrocyclic Metal Complexes for Metalloenzyme Mimicry and Sensor Development". Accounts of Chemical Research. 48 (8): 2366–2379. doi:10.1021/acs.accounts.5b00142. PMID26244894.