Polybenzocrown ethers: synthesis by cesium-assisted cyclization and solid-state structures

A series of large-ring polybenzocrown ethers is prepared by cesium-assisted cyclizations. Reactions of diphenols/bisphenols, dimesylates of oligoethylene glycols and cesium carbonate in MeCN produce the large-ring polybenzocrown ethers in high yields. To gain further insight into the structures of these compounds, solid-state structures of three large-ring crown ethers are obtained by X-ray diffraction.