Templated synthesis of desymmetrized [2]catenanes with excellent translational selectivity

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ol070970s

Desymmetrized [2]catenanes ware synthesized and shown to exhibit excellent translational selectivity. The templated synthesis takes effect from the formation of pseudorotaxanes between π-rich crown ethers and a π-deficient pyromellitic (Pml) unit, followed by macrocyclization around the crown ethers with the creation of a bipyridinium (BPy) unit. The crown ethers preferably encircle the BPy unit In the resulting [2]catenanes in both solution and the solid state, as indicated by various spectroscopic analyses.