Straightforward synthesis of bis-tetraazacycloalkanes: towards new potential CXCR4 antagonists?

We report herein an efficient and general method for the synthesis of new bismacrocyclic compounds, structural analogues of biscyclam AMD3100, in which the two macrocycles are linked together through carbon atoms of the cycles. Several representatives of this new class of biscyclic derivatives were prepared by reacting C-aminomethyl-13aneN4 with aromatic dialdehydes. Preliminary in vitro studies were performed to evaluate the affinity of these compounds towards the co-receptor CXCR4.