An experimental re-investigation of the role of aromatic-aromatic interactions in a templated synthesis of a macrocyclic pseudopeptide

The experimental re-investigation of a reported synthesis of a macrocyclic pseudopeptide promoted by bis(tetrabutylammonium) terephthalate allowed us to elucidate the nature of the non-bonding interactions between the reagents and the template; while the involvement of aromatic–aromatic interactions could be ruled out, the relevance of the role of the carboxylate ion was confirmed.