Abstract Imines 3, 5 and 7 generated from 4-methoxypyridine-2, 6-dicarbaldehyde (1) and several amines 2, 4 and 6 show a remarkable stability in water. The 18-membered macrocyclic diimine 5 is stable and could be synthesized in good yield by using 2 equiv. of calcium ions as template in pure water, and even the non-macrocyclic diimine 3 survives in water/methanol (50: 50) without any template effect. In a mixture of ...
