Strategies and methods for the synthesis of pyridinocrownophanes (microreview)

[Figure not available: see fulltext.][Figure not available: see fulltext.] This review aims to highlight the most significant recent developments in the synthesis of pyridinofused azacrown ethers, which contain a minor azaheterocyclic moiety contributing its nitrogen atom to the macrocycle. This subfield of azacrown ethers draws constant attention of scientists over the last decades owing to their great theoretical and practical potential.1 Pyridinocrownophanes, azacrown ethers containing a pyridine subunit, are widely used as ligands for effective metal ion sequestration,2 as well as enantiomeric recognition.3 They are also excellent phase-transfer catalysts,1 membrane ion transporting vehicles,4 scaffolds for the design of organic sensors, nanosized on-off switches, and other molecular devices.5 Certain pyridinoazacrown compounds have been found to possess antibacterial6 and anticancer properties.7[Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.