A Molecular Solomon Link

The End of the Beginning of Mechanical Stereochemistry

ConspectusStereochemistry has played a key role in the development of synthetic chemistry for the simple reason that the function and properties of most molecules, from medicine to materials science, depend on their shape and thus the stereoisomer used. However, despite the potential for rotaxanes and catenanes to display unusual forms of stereochemistry being identified as early as 1961, this aspect of the mechanical bond remained underexplored and underexploited; until 2014 it was only possible to access chiral rotaxanes and catenanes whose stereoisomerism is solely attributable to the mechanical bond using chiral stationary phase high performance liquid chromatography, which limited their production on scale and thus inhibited the investigation of their properties and applications. Furthermore, the stereogenic units of such molecules and analogues were often poorly described, which made it hard to fully articulate both what had been achieved in the field and what problems were left to solve. Relatively recently, methods to access rotaxanes and catenanes that display mechanical stereochemistry selectively have been developed, making these intriguing structures available for study in a range of prototypical applications including catalysis, sensing, and as chiral luminophores.In this Account, we briefly discuss the history of mechanical stereochemistry, beginning in 1961 when the potential for mechanical stereoisomerism was first identified, before defining how mechanical stereochemistry arises from a structural point of view. Building on this, using simple stereochemical arguments, we confirm that the complete set of unique stereogenic units of two-component rotaxanes and catenanes have finally been identified and categorized unambiguously, with the last being identified only in 2024. After pausing to discuss some of the stereochemical curiosities that arise when molecules contain both covalent and mechanical stereogenic units, and the potential for stereoisomerism to arise due to co-conformational movement, we use our stereochemical framework to summarize our efforts to develop conceptually general approaches to [2]catenanes and [2]rotaxanes containing all of the possible mechanical stereogenic units. In particular, we highlight how the nature of a mechanical stereogenic unit affects the available strategies for their stereoselective synthesis. We finish by highlighting recent prototypical chemical applications of interlocked molecules that rely on their mechanical stereochemistry, before discussing future directions and challenges.Taken together, we propose that the transition of such molecules from being hard to make and poorly described, to being available in high stereopurity using clearly articulated methodological and stereochemical concepts suggests that the field is finally maturing. Thus, we are now coming to the end of the beginning of mechanical stereochemistry. The stage is now set for such molecules to play a functional role in a range of areas, indeed in any chemical or physical application where control over molecular shape is required.

The Final Stereogenic Unit of [2]Rotaxanes: Type 2 Geometric Isomers

Mechanical stereochemistry arises when the interlocking of stereochemically trivial covalent subcomponents results in a stereochemically complex object. Although this general concept was identified in 1961, the stereochemical description of these molecules is still under development to the extent that new forms of mechanical stereochemistry are still being identified. Here, we present a simple analysis of rotaxane and catenane stereochemistry that allowed us to identify the final missing simple mechanical stereogenic unit, an overlooked form of rotaxane geometric isomerism, and demonstrate its stereoselective synthesis.

Hetero- and Homointerlocked Metal-Organic Cages

Interlocked molecular assemblies constitute a captivating ensemble of chemical topologies, comprising two or more separate components that exhibit remarkably intricate structures. The interlocked molecular assemblies are typically identical, and heterointerlocked systems that comprise structurally distinct assemblies remain unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that metal-templated synthesis can be exploited to afford not only a homointerlocked cage but also a heterointerlocked cage. Treatment of a carboxylated 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmp) or Cu(I) bis-dmp linker with a Ni4-p-tert-butylsulfonylcalix[4]arene cluster affords noninterlocked octahedron and quadruply interlocked double cages consisting of two identical tetragonal pyramids, respectively. In contrast, when a mixture of dmp and Cu(I) bis-dmp linkers is used, a quadruply heterointerlocked cage is produced, consisting of a tetragonal pyramid and an octahedron. With photoredox-active [Cu(dmp)2]+ in the structures, both interlocked cages exhibit remarkable performance as photocatalysts for atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) reactions of trifluoromethanesulfonyl chloride with alkenes or oxo-azidations of vinyl arenes. These interlocked structures serve the dual purpose of stabilizing photocatalytically active components against deactivation and encapsulating substrates within the cavity, resulting in yields comparable to or even surpassing those of their molecular counterparts. This work thus provides a new strategy that combines metal templating and nontemplating approaches to design new types of interlocked assemblies with intriguing architectures and properties.

Iminopyrrole-Based Self-Assembly: A Route to Intrinsically Flexible Molecular Links and Knots

The use of 2,5-diformylpyrrole in self-assembly reactions with diamines and Zn(II)/Cd(II) salts allowed the preparation of [2]catenane, trefoil knot, and Borromean rings. The intrinsically dynamic nature of the diiminopyrrole motif rendered all of the formed assemblies intramolecularly flexible. The presence of diiminopyrrole revealed new coordination motifs and influenced the host-guest chemistry of the systems, as illustrated by hexafluorophosphate encapsulation by Borromean rings.

Biasing the Formation of Solution-Unstable Intermediates in Coordination Self-Assembly by Mechanochemistry

Due to the reversible nature of coordination bonds and solvation effect, coordination self-assembly pathways are often difficult to elucidate experimentally in solution, as intermediates and products are in constant equilibration. The present study shows that some of these transient and high-energy self-assembly intermediates can be accessed by means of ball-milling approaches. Among them, highly aqueous-unstable Pd3 L11 and Pd6 L14 open-cage intermediates of the framed Fujita Pd6 L14 cage and Pd2 L22 , Pd3 L21 and Pd4 L22 intermediates of Mukherjee Pd6 L24 capsule are successfully trapped in solid-state, where Pd=tmedaPd2+ , L1=2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine and L2=1,3,5-tris(1-imidazolyl)benzene). Their structures are assigned by a combination of solution-based characterization tools such as standard NMR spectroscopy, DOSY NMR, ESI-MS and X-ray diffraction. Collectively, these results highlight the opportunity of using mechanochemistry to access unique chemical space with vastly different reactivity compared to conventional solution-based supramolecular self-assembly reactions.

DFT Study of Imine-Exchange Reactions in Iron(II)-Coordinated Pincers

The imine bond is among the most applied motifs in dynamic covalent chemistry. Although its uses are varied and often involve coordination to a transition metal for stability, mechanistic studies on imine exchange reactions so far have not included metal coordination. Herein, we investigated the condensation and transimination reactions of an Fe2+ -coordinated diimine pyridine pincer, employing wB97XD/6-311G(2d,2p) DFT calculations in acetonitrile. We first experimentally confirmed that Fe2+ is strongly coordinated by these pincers, and is thus a justified model ion. When considering a four-membered ring-shaped transition state for proton transfers, the required activation energies for condensation and transimination reaction exceeded the values expected for reactions known to be spontaneous at room temperature. The nature of the incoming and exiting amines and the substituents on the para-position of the pincer had no effect on this. Replacing Fe2+ with Zn2+ or removing it altogether did not reduce it either. However, the addition of two ethylamine molecules lowered the energy barriers to be compatible with experiment (19.4 and 23.2 kcal/mol for condensation and transimination, respectively). Lastly, the energy barrier of condensation of a non-coordinated pincer was significantly higher than found for Fe2+ -coordinating pincers, underlining the catalyzing effect of metal coordination on imine exchange reactions.

Polar Solomon rings in ferroelectric nanocrystals

Solomon rings, upholding the symbol of wisdom with profound historical roots, were widely used as decorations in ancient architecture and clothing. However, it was only recently discovered that such topological structures can be formed by self-organization in biological/chemical molecules, liquid crystals, etc. Here, we report the observation of polar Solomon rings in a ferroelectric nanocrystal, which consist of two intertwined vortices and are mathematically equivalent to a [Formula: see text] link in topology. By combining piezoresponse force microscopy observations and phase-field simulations, we demonstrate the reversible switching between polar Solomon rings and vertex textures by an electric field. The two types of topological polar textures exhibit distinct absorption of terahertz infrared waves, which can be exploited in infrared displays with a nanoscale resolution. Our study establishes, both experimentally and computationally, the existence and electrical manipulation of polar Solomon rings, a new form of topological polar structures that may provide a simple way for fast, robust, and high-resolution optoelectronic devices.

The Story of the Little Blue Box: A Tribute to Siegfried Hünig

The tetracationic cyclophane, cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene), also known as the little blue box, constitutes a modular receptor that has facilitated the discovery of many host-guest complexes and mechanically interlocked molecules during the past 35 years. Its versatility in binding small π-donors in its tetracationic state, as well as forming trisradical tricationic complexes with viologen radical cations in its doubly reduced bisradical dicationic state, renders it valuable for the construction of various stimuli-responsive materials. Since the first reports in 1988, the little blue box has been featured in over 500 publications in the literature. All this research activity would not have been possible without the seminal contributions carried out by Siegfried Hünig, who not only pioneered the syntheses of viologen-containing cyclophanes, but also revealed their rich redox chemistry in addition to their ability to undergo intramolecular π-dimerization. This Review describes how his pioneering research led to the design and synthesis of the little blue box, and how this redox-active host evolved into the key component of molecular shuttles, switches, and machines.

Mechanochemical Access to a Short-Lived Cyclic Dimer Pd2 L2 : An Elusive Kinetic Species En Route to Molecular Triangle Pd3 L3 and Molecular Square Pd4 L4

Pd-based molecular square Pd₄ L₄ and triangle Pd₃ L₃ represent the molecular ancestors of metal-coordination polyhedra that have been an integral part of the field for the last 30 years. Conventional solution-based reactions between cis-protected Pd ions and 2,2'-bipyridine exclusively give Pd₄ L₄ and/or Pd₃ L₃ as the sole products. We herein show that, under solvent-free mechanochemical conditions, the self-assembly energy landscape can be thermodynamically manipulated to form an elusive cyclic dimer Pd₂ L₂ for the first time. In the absence of solvent, Pd₂ L₂ is indefinitely stable in the solid-state, but converts rapidly to its thermodynamic products Pd₃ L₃ and Pd₄ L₄ in solution, confirming Pd₂ L₂ as a short-lived kinetic species in the solution-based self-assembly process. Our results highlight how mechanochemistry grants access to a vastly different chemical space than available under conventional solution conditions. This provides a unique opportunity to isolate elusive species in self-assembly processes that are too reactive to both "see" and "capture".

Beyond Platonic: How to Build Metal-Organic Polyhedra Capable of Binding Low-Symmetry, Information-Rich Molecular Cargoes

The field of metallosupramolecular chemistry has advanced rapidly in recent years. Much work in this area has focused on the formation of hollow self-assembled metal-organic architectures and exploration of the applications of their confined nanospaces. These discrete, soluble structures incorporate metal ions as ‘glue’ to link organic ligands together into polyhedra.Most of the architectures employed thus far have been highly symmetrical, as these have been the easiest to prepare. Such high-symmetry structures contain pseudospherical cavities, and so typically bind roughly spherical guests. Biomolecules and high-value synthetic compounds are rarely isotropic, highly-symmetrical species. To bind, sense, separate, and transform such substrates, new, lower-symmetry, metal-organic cages are needed. Herein we summarize recent approaches, which taken together form the first draft of a handbook for the design of higher-complexity, lower-symmetry, self-assembled metal-organic architectures.

Distinctive features and challenges in catenane chemistry

From being an aesthetic molecular object to a building block for the construction of molecular machines, catenanes and related mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) continue to attract immense interest in many research areas. Catenane chemistry is closely tied to that of rotaxanes and knots, and involves concepts like mechanical bonds, chemical topology and co-conformation that are unique to these molecules. Yet, because of their different topological structures and mechanical bond properties, there are some fundamental differences between the chemistry of catenanes and that of rotaxanes and knots although the boundary is sometimes blurred. Clearly distinguishing these differences, in aspects of bonding, structure, synthesis and properties, between catenanes and other MIMs is therefore of fundamental importance to understand their chemistry and explore the new opportunities from mechanical bonds.

Exciton Coupling in Redox-Active Salen based Self-Assembled Metallacycles

The incorporation of a redox-active nickel salen complex into supramolecular structures was explored via coordination-driven self-assembly with homobimetallic ruthenium complexes (bridged by oxalato or 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinato ligands). The self-assembly resulted in the formation of a discrete rectangle using the oxalato complex and either a rectangle or a catenane employing the larger naphthoquinonato complex. The formation of the interlocked self-assembly was determined to be solvent and concentration dependent. The electronic structure and stability of the oxidized metallacycles was probed using electrochemical experiments, UV-Vis-NIR absorption, EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations, confirming ligand radical formation. Exciton coupling of the intense near-infrared (NIR) ligand radical intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) bands provided further confirmation of the geometric and electronic structures in solution.

Reversible pH-Controlled Catenation of a Benzobisimidazole-Based Tetranuclear Rectangle

The development of methodologies to control on demand and reversibly supramolecular transformations from self-assembled metalla-structures requires the rational design of architectures able to answer to an applied stimulus. While solvent or concentration changes, light exposure or addition of a chemical have been largely explored to provide these transformations, the case of pH sensitive materials is less described. Herein, we report the first example of a pH-triggered dissociation of a coordination-driven self-assembled interlocked molecular link. It incorporates a pH sensitive benzobisimidazole-based ligand that can be selectively protonated on its bisimidazole moieties. This generates intermolecular electrostatic repulsions that reduces drastically the stability of the interlocked structure, leading to its dissociation without any sign of protonation of the pyridine moieties involved in the coordination bonds. Importantly, the dissociation process is reversible through addition of a base.

Complementarity of 2,6-Dimethanolpyridine and Di(ethylene glycol) in the Complexation of Na+ Ions: Attaching Multiple Copies of [2]Catenane Branches to Isophthalaldehyde-Containing Cores

In this study we found that 2,6-dimethanolpyridine displays good complementarity toward di(ethylene glycol) for the complexation of Na⁺ ions, allowing us to use this recognition system for the efficient synthesis of hetero[2]catenanes; indeed, it allowed us to attach multiple copies of [2]catenanes to branched systems presenting multiple isophthalaldehyde units. When we attempted to form a catenane from a preformed macrocycle featuring only a single di(ethylene glycol) unit, reacting it with a di(ethylene glycol) derivative presenting two amino termini, isophthalaldehyde, and templating Na⁺ ions [i.e., with the aim of using di(ethylene glycol)·Na⁺·di(ethylene glycol) recognition to template the formation of the interlocked imino macrocycle], the yields of the hetero[2]catenane and homo[2]catenane, comprising two imino macrocyclic units, were both poor (14% and 7%, respectively). In contrast, when one or two 2,6-dimethanolpyridine units were present in the preformed macrocycles, their reactions with the same diamine, dialdehyde, and Na⁺ ions provided the hetero[2]catenanes with high selectivity and efficiency (44% and 64% yields, respectively), with minimal formation of the competing homo[2]catenane. The high complementary of the 2,6-dimethanolpyridine·Na⁺·di(ethylene glycol) ligand pair allowed us to synthesize [2]catenane dimers and trimers directly from corresponding isophthalaldehyde-presenting cores, with yields, after subsequent reduction and methylation, of 42% and 31%, respectively.

Selective Construction of Trefoil knots and a Molecular Borromean Ring Induced by Steric Hindrance of Thioether Ligands

Two Cp*-Rh^III based trefoil knots were obtained in high yield under ambient conditions via the coordination-driven self-assembly of semi-rigid thioether dipyridyl ligand 1,4-bis[(pyridin-4-ylthio)methyl]benzene (L₁ ), ligand chloranilic acid (H₂ -CA) and 6,11-dihydroxytetracene-5,12-dione (H₂ -TtDo) with Cp*Rh^III metal corner units, respectively. Furthermore, using the bulkier 4,4'-{[(2,5-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene)bis(methylene)]bis(sulfanediyl)}dipyridine (L₂ ) in the place of ligand L₁ in the construction process resulted in the formation of a teranuclear metallacycle and a template-free Borromean ring in high yields thanks to significantly altered intermolecular forces between the constituent ligands induced by the sterically-hindering methyl groups of L₂ , as demonstrated via a detailed X-ray crystallographic analysis and NMR spectroscopy.

A Giant [8+12] Boronic Ester Cage with 48 Terminal Alkene Units in the Periphery for Postsynthetic Alkene Metathesis

Dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) is a powerful synthetic tool to construct large defined molecules in one step from rather simple precursors. The advantage of the intrinsic dynamics of the applied reversible reaction steps is a self‐correction under the chosen conditions, to achieve high yields of the target compound. To date, only a few examples are known, in which DCC was used to build up a molecular defined but larger product that was chemically transferred to a more stable congener in a second (irreversible) step. Here, we present a nanometer‐sized [8+12] boronic ester cage containing 48 peripheral terminal alkene units which allows to put a hydrocarbon exoskeleton around the cage via alkene metathesis.

Suit[3]ane

Suitanes are a class of mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) that consist of two components: a body with limbs protruding outward and a suit that fits appropriately around it, so that there is no easy way for the suit to be removed from the body. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a suit[3]ane, which contains a benzotrithiophene derivative (THBTT) with three protruding hexyl chains as the body and a 3-fold symmetric, extended pyridinium-based cage, namely, HexaCage⁶⁺, as the suit. Central to its realization is effective templation, provided by THBTT during cage formation, an observation that has been supported by the strong binding constant between benzotrithiophene (BTT) and the empty cage. The solid-state structure of the suit[3]ane reveals that the body is confined within the suit's cavity with its alkyl chains protruding outward through the orifices in the cage. Notably, such a seemingly unstable molecule, having three flexible alkyl chains as its only protruding limbs, does not dissociate after prolonged heating in CD₃CN at 100 °C under pressure for 7 days. No evidence for guest exchange with the host was observed at this temperature in a 2:1 mixture of THBTT and HexaCage⁶⁺ in CD₃CN. The results indicate that flexible protruding limbs are sufficient for a suit[3]ane to remain mechanically stable even at high temperatures in solution.

Coordination-Directed Construction of Molecular Links

Since the emergence of the concept of chemical topology, interlocked molecular assemblies have graduated from academic curiosities and poorly defined species to become synthetic realities. Coordination-directed synthesis provides powerful, diverse, and increasingly sophisticated protocols for accessing interlocked molecules. Originally, metal ions were employed solely as templates to gather and position building blocks in entwined or threaded arrangements. Recently, metal centers have increasingly featured within the backbones of the integral structural elements, which in turn use noncovalent interactions to self-assemble into intricate topologies. By outlining ingenious recent examples as well as seminal classic cases, this Review focuses on the role of metal-ligand paradigms in assembling molecular links. In addition, the ever-evolving approaches to efficient assembly, the structural features of the resulting architectures, and their prospects for the future are also presented.

Dissipative Assembly of Macrocycles Comprising Multiple Transient Bonds

Dissipative assembly has great potential for the creation of new adaptive chemical systems. However, while molecular assembly at equilibrium is routinely used to prepare complex architectures from polyfunctional monomers, species formed out of equilibrium have, to this point, been structurally very simple. In most examples the fuel simply effects the formation of a single short-lived covalent bond. Herein, we show that chemical fuels can assemble bifunctional components into macrocycles containing multiple transient bonds. Specifically, dicarboxylic acids give aqueous dianhydride macrocycles on treatment with a carbodiimide. The macrocycles are assembled efficiently as a consequence of both fuel-dependent and fuel-independent mechanisms; they undergo slower decomposition, building up as the fuel recycles the components, and are a favored product of the dynamic exchange of the anhydride bonds. These results create new possibilities for generating structurally sophisticated out-of-equilibrium species.

Pyrroloindole-Based Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry

We report a new class of building blocks for Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry (DCC) based on the pyrroloindole scaffold. The attachment of l-cysteine on the α, α′ positions of the core makes the molecule suitable for disulfide exchange in aqueous dynamic combinatorial libraries (DCLs). The synthesis of the core follows a modified version of the Knoevenagel–Hemetsberger approach. The new building block (l-PI) is fluorescent (Φ = 48%) and relatively stable towards thermal and photodegradation. The chirality of the cysteine is transferred to the electron-rich pyrroloindole core. Homo- and heterochiral DCLs of l-PI with electron-deficient l- and d-naphthalenediimide (NDI) lead to similar library distributions regardless of the enantiomer used. When no salt is present, the major component is a dimer, while dimers and tetramers are obtained at increased ionic strength.

A pH-Switchable Triple Hydrogen-Bonding Motif

A stimuli responsive linear hydrogen bonding motif, capable of in situ protonation and deprotonation, has been investigated. The interactions of the responsive hydrogen bonding motif with complementary partners were examined through a series of 1H NMR experiments, revealing that the recognition preference of the responsive hydrogen bonding motif in a mixture can be switched between two states.

Self-Sorting Assembly of Molecular Trefoil Knots of Single Handedness

We report on the stereoselective synthesis of trefoil knots of single topological handedness in up to 90% yield (over two steps) through the formation of trimeric circular helicates from ligand strands containing either imine or, unexpectedly, amide chelating units and metal ion templates of the appropriate coordination character (zinc(II) for imines; cobalt(III) for amides). The coordination stereochemistry of the octahedral metal complexes is determined by asymmetric carbon centers in the strands, ultimately translating into trefoil knots that are a single enantiomer, both physically and in terms of their fundamental topology. Both the imine-zinc and amide-cobalt systems display self-sorting behavior, with racemic ligands forming knots that individually contain only building blocks of the same chirality. The knots and the corresponding trimeric circular helicate intermediates (Zn(II)₃ complex for the imine ligands; Co(III)₃ complex for the amide ligands) were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography. The latter confirms the trefoil knots as 84-membered macrocycles, with each of the metal ions sited at a crossing point for three regions of the strand. The stereochemistry of the octahedral coordination centers imparts alternating crossings of the same handedness within each circular helicate. The expression of chirality of the knotted molecules was probed by circular dichroism: The topological handedness of the demetalated knots was found to have a greater effect on the CD response than the Euclidean chirality of an individual chiral center.

Probing the Dynamics of the Imine-Based Pentafoil Knot and Pentameric Circular Helicate Assembly

We investigate the self-assembly dynamics of an imine-based pentafoil knot and related pentameric circular helicates, each derived from a common bis(formylpyridine)bipyridyl building block, iron(II) chloride, and either monoamines or a diamine. The mixing of circular helicates derived from different amines led to the complete exchange of the N-alkyl residues on the periphery of the metallo-supramolecular scaffolds over 4 days in DMSO at 60 °C. Under similar conditions, deuterium-labeled and nonlabeled building blocks showed full dialdehyde building block exchange over 13 days for open circular helicates but was much slower for the analogous closed-loop pentafoil knot (>60 days). Although both knots and open circular helicates self-assemble under thermodynamic control given sufficiently long reaction times, this is significantly longer than the time taken to afford the maximum product yield (2 days). Highly effective error correction occurs during the synthesis of imine-based pentafoil molecular knots and pentameric circular helicates despite, in practice, the systems not operating under full thermodynamic control.

Supramolecular Self-Sorting Networks using Hydrogen-Bonding Motifs

A current objective in supramolecular chemistry is to mimic the transitions between complex self-sorted systems that represent a hallmark of regulatory function in nature. In this work, a self-sorting network, comprising linear hydrogen motifs, was created. Selecting six hydrogen-bonding motifs capable of both high-fidelity and promiscuous molecular recognition gave rise to a complex self-sorting system, which included motifs capable of both narcissistic and social self-sorting. Examination of the interactions between individual components, experimentally and computationally, provided a rationale for the product distribution during each phase of a cascade. This reasoning holds through up to five sequential additions of six building blocks, resulting in the construction of a biomimetic network in which the presence or absence of different components provides multiple unique pathways to distinct self-sorted configurations.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Mechanically Planar Chiral Rotaxanes

Chiral interlocked molecules in which the mechanical bond provides the sole stereogenic unit are typically produced with no control over the mechanical stereochemistry. Here we report a stereoselective approach to mechanically planar chiral rotaxanes in up to 98:2 d.r. using a readily available α-amino acid-derived azide. Symmetrization of the covalent stereocenter yields a rotaxane in which the mechanical bond provides the only stereogenic element.

A Six-Crossing Doubly Interlocked [2]Catenane with Twisted Rings, and a Molecular Granny Knot

A molecular 6 2 3 link (a six crossing, doubly interlocked, [2]catenane with twisted rings) and a 31 #31 granny knot (a composite knot made up of two trefoil tangles of the same handedness) were constructed by ring-closing olefin metathesis of an iron(II)-coordinated 2×2 interwoven grid. The connections were directed by pendant phenyl groups to be between proximal ligand ends on the same faces of the grid. The 6 2 3 link was separated from the topoisomeric granny knot by recycling size-exclusion chromatography. The identity of each topoisomer was determined by tandem mass spectrometry and the structure of the 6 2 3 link confirmed by X-ray crystallography, which revealed two 82-membered macrocycles, each in figure-of-eight conformations, linked through both pairs of loops.

Template-Directed Synthesis of Molecular Nanorings and Cages

This Account is about templates as construction tools: molecules for making molecules. A template organizes the reactants and provides information to promote formation of a specific product, but it is not part of the final product. We have developed many different strategies for using oligopyridines as templates for the synthesis of alkyne-linked π-conjugated metalloporphyrin oligomers. These compounds include some of the largest macrocycles ever synthesized, such as a 50-porphyrin ring with a diameter of 21 nm containing a ring of 750 C-C bonds. Metalloporphyrins are excellent models for exploring template directed synthesis, as they can be functionalized in many different positions and the central metal (typically Zn or Mg) provides a handle for coordination to templates. Classical template-directed macrocyclization reactions have a 1:1 complementarity between the template and the product. This strategy works well for preparing nanorings of 5-7 porphyrin units, but larger templates are laborious to synthesize. Rings of 8 or more porphyrin units are most easily prepared using "nonclassical" strategies, in which several small templates work together to direct the formation of a large ring. In the Vernier approach, a mismatch between the number of binding sites on the template and the building block leads to a mathematical amplification of the length scale: the number of binding sites in the product is the lowest common multiple of those in the template and the building block. For example, a 40-porphyrin ring can be prepared by coupling a linear decamer in the presence of an octadentate template. Linear Vernier templating opens up intriguing possibilities for self-replication. When several small radial oligopyridine templates bind inside a large nanoring they can form complexes with some vacant coordination sites that display correlated motion like the caterpillar tracks of a bulldozer. These caterpillar track complexes can be used in template-directed synthesis and they provide the most convenient route to 8- and 10-porphyrin rings. Russian doll complexes provide another strategy for template-directed synthesis: a number of specifically designed ligands bind to a central nanoring to form a template for constructing a larger concentric nanoring. The same oligopyridine templates that are used to prepare nanorings can also be used to synthesize three-dimensional nanotubes and nanoballs. Again, nonclassical approaches, in which several small templates work together cooperatively, are much simpler than creating a single large template with sufficient binding sites to define the whole geometry of the product. Oligopyridine ligands can also be used as shadow mask templates to control the demetalation of magnesium porphyrin nanorings, because metal centers that are not coordinated by the template can be selectively demetalated with acid. Thus, the template forms a permanent shadow on the porphyrin nanostructure that remains after the template has been removed. Shadow mask templates provide a simple route to heterometalated molecular architectures. The insights emerging from these studies are widely applicable, and there are many opportunities for inventing new ways of using templates to control reactions.

Discovering privileged topologies of molecular knots with self-assembling models

Despite the several available strategies to build complex supramolecular constructs, only a handful of different molecular knots have been synthesised so far. Here, in response to the quest for further designable topologies, we use Monte Carlo sampling and molecular dynamics simulations, informed by general principles of supramolecular assembly, as a discovery tool for thermodynamically and kinetically accessible knot types made of helical templates. By combining this approach with the exhaustive enumeration of molecular braiding patterns applicable to more general template geometries, we find that only few selected shapes have the closed, symmetric and quasi-planar character typical of synthetic knots. The corresponding collection of admissible topologies is extremely restricted. It covers all known molecular knots but it especially includes a limited set of novel complex ones that have not yet been obtained experimentally, such as 10124 and 15n41185, making them privileged targets for future self-assembling experiments.

Chirality in rotaxanes and catenanes

Although chiral mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) have been synthesised and studied, enantiopure examples are relatively under-represented in the pantheon of reported catenanes and rotaxanes and the underlying chirality of the system is often even overlooked. This is changing with the advent of new applications of MIMs in catalysis, sensing and materials and the appearance of new methods to access unusual stereogenic units unique to the mechanical bond. Here we discuss the different stereogenic units that have been investigated in catenanes and rotaxanes, examples of their application, methods for assigning absolute stereochemistry and provide a perspective on future developments.

Coordination-Driven Self-Assembly of a Molecular Knot Comprising Sixteen Crossings

Molecular knots have become highly attractive to chemists because of their prospective properties in mimicking biomolecules and machines. Only a few examples of molecular knots from the billions tabulated by mathematicians have been realized and molecular knots with more than eight crossings have not been reported to date. We report here the coordination-driven [8+8] self-assembly of a higher-generation molecular knot comprising as many as sixteen crossings. Its solid-state X-ray crystal structure and multinuclear 2D NMR findings confirmed its architecture and topology. The formation of this molecular knot appears to depend on the functionalities and geometries of donor and acceptor in terms of generating appropriate angles and strong π-π interactions supported by hydrophobic effects. This study shows coordination-driven self-assembly offers a powerful potential means of synthesizing more and more complicated molecular knots and of understanding differences between the properties of knotted and unknotted structures.