Palladium-catalyzed amination in the synthesis of macrocycles comprising cholane, polyamine and pyridine units

3,24-Bis(6-chloropyridin-2-yloxy)cholane, obtained from 3,24-cholandiol via a Mitsunobu reaction, was successfully used for the synthesis of a variety of polyazamacrocycles using Pd-catalyzed amination reaction with linear polyamines. The competing formation of cyclodimers and other cyclic oligomers was found to be strongly dependent on the nature of the polyamines employed.