Armed-monoaza-12-crown-4, monoaza-15-crown-5, diaza-12-crown-4, diaza-18-crown-6 ethers, and 1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazacyclododecane having aromatic pendants were prepared by the reductive amination of the corresponding macrocycles with aromatic carboxyaldehydes in the presence of NaBH (OAc) 3. Reductive amination under 1 MPa conditions provided significant shortening of the reaction time and yield enhancements.
