[kriggy]

Hi
Im writing an essay on template synthesis of macrocycles and I have small problem with it.
By reactction of dicarbonyl compound with diamino compound in presence of metal salt we get macrocyclic shiff base complex with given metal atom.
It is possible to isolate free macrocyclic ligand by using NaBH₄ but it also reduce the double bonds. It is also possible to prepare another metal complex of given shiff base by transmetalation reaction.
Is there a way how to remove the metal atom without reducing the double bonds? Are there other ways how to remove the metal atom from complex to get free ligand?
Thanks for any suggestions

[ProfKG]

One way to do it without reducing the schiff base would be KCN? M-CN species are stable and often insoluble (take care regarding the toxicity).

Maybe refluxing with EDTA or another strong metal chelator would work.

[kriggy]

Hm works for nickel can work for other metals too. I wasnt sure tho, im not going to try it actualy it is just for the theoretical part of that essay. Thanks