Facile syntheses of [3]-, [4]- and [6]catenanes templated by orthogonal supramolecular interactions

Chem Sci. 2016 Apr 21;7(4):2787-2792. doi: 10.1039/c5sc04774a. Epub 2016 Jan 15.

Abstract

A water soluble [6]catenane consisting of two interlocking [3]catenanes was synthesised in 91% yield using readily accessible precursors. The new strategy features the simultaneous use of orthogonal Cu+-phenanthroline and CB[6]-ammonium interactions for preorganising the precursors and the efficient CB[6]-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition as bond forming reactions for ring closing, resulting in high structural complexity and fidelity of the products without compromising interlocking efficiency. A related [4]catenane with three different types of macrocycles was also obtained in good yield.