Synthesis of new enantiomerically pure macrocycles containing phenanthroline subunits

New enantiomerically pure macrocycles have been prepared by combining 1,10-phenanthroline 2,9-dicarboxylic acid and two alpha-amino-acids linked through spacers. Different diamine linkers have been employed in order to modify the dimensions and the properties of the macrocycles whose structures have been studied by H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. The ability of the Q-valine containing macrocycles to bind metal ions and phenolic molecules has been investigated by H-1 NMR experiments and Molecular Mechanics calculations.