I am currently undertaking my Masters degree and my supervisor asked me to synthesise a Schiff-base macrocycle via a metal template method. There is a lot of publish literature out there relating to these sort of macrocycles but one thing I have noticed is that all the methods use metal perchlorate salts. Originally the papers I was reading were published around the 1970's and so I thought the chemistry may be outdated but even more recent journal entries still use metal perchlorate salts. I was not allowed to use any perchlorate compounds so I have been using other metal salts but have had no luck in synthesising my compound. Any information would much appreciated.
My best guess is that metal ions are very weakly coordinated by perchlorate, and therefore more available to serve as a template for the cyclization. Other weakly co-ordinating anions should serve as well, but perchlorates are the least expensive and most readily available.
Thank you James Demers for your answer, the other anions I have tried for this synthesis are PF6- , BF4- , BPh4-, and OTf- are there any other anions that you would recommend for this synthesis?
Are you not seeing cyclization at all, or is it a question of getting a crystalline product? BPh4- should leave the metal pretty much naked, so I would think it's a question of finding the right metal and solvent. What geometry are you asking the metal to adopt in the desired product?
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