Synthesis of N-tetrasubstituted cyclam derivatives appended with sulfonyl or sulfinyl groups via aza-Michael addition

Azamacrocycles bearing four arylsulfonyl or arylsulfinyl pendant arms have been synthesised with good yields through nucleophilic addition of 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (cyclam) to phenylvinylsulfone, phenylvinylsulfoxide or (R)-tolylvinylsulfoxide in isopropanol/water media. The crystal structure of the tetraethylsulfonylphenyl substituted macrocycle has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Preliminary studies of the coordination properties of these functionalised macrocyles towards Cu(II) and Eu(III) indicate that pendant sulfoxide groups act as oxygen donor coordinating groups.