Oligomeric pseudorotaxanes adopting infinite-chain lattice superstructures

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2012 Jul 16;51(29):7231-5. doi: 10.1002/anie.201202513. Epub 2012 Jun 14.

Abstract

It's just an illusion: Above a critical chain length, where oligomers contain five or more recognition units, apparently infinite donor-acceptor polypseudorotaxanes are formed in the solid state (see picture). X-ray crystallographic analyses of three different examples have shown that although the oligomeric chains are undoubtedly discrete and monodisperse, they nevertheless appear to be infinite in the crystal.