Hydrogen bond templated 1:1 macrocyclization through an olefin metathesis/hydrogenation sequence.

The construction of pyridine-containing macrocyclic architectures using a nonmetallic template is described. 4,6-Dichlororesorcinol was used as an exotemplate to self-organize two aza-heterocyclic units by OH···N hydrogen bonds. Subsequent sequential double olefin metathesis/hydrogenation reactions employing a single ruthenium-alkylidene precatalyst open access to macrocyclic molecules.