Synthesis of a Mechanically Planar Chiral and Axially Chiral [2]Rotaxane

Rapid synthesis of hydrogen bond templated handcuff rotaxanes

The rapid synthesis of hydrogen bond templated handcuff rotaxanes is described. The isolated rotaxanes were characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopies and high resolution mass spectrometry. This report represents a rare demonstration of preparing (2)handcuff [2]rotaxanes by covalently linking separate axles threaded through the rings of a bis-macrocycle by use of the copper catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction.

Synthesis of 'Impossible' Rotaxanes

'Impossible' rotaxanes, which are constituted by interlocked components without obvious binding motifs, have attracted the interest of the mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) community. Within the synthetic efforts reported in the last decades towards the preparation of MIMs, some innovative protocols for accessing 'impossible' rotaxanes have been developed. This short review highlights different selected synthetic examples of 'impossible' rotaxanes, as well as suggests some future directions of this research area.

Mechanically interlocked molecular handcuffs

The field of mechanically interlocked molecules that employ a handcuff component are reviewed. The variety of rotaxane and catenane structures that use the handcuff motif to interlock different components are discussed and a new nomenclature, distilling diverse terminologies to a single approach, is proposed. By unifying the interpretation of this class of molecules we identify new opportunities for employing this structural unit for new architectures.

Mechanically interlocked molecules that employ a handcuff component provide a pathway to highly unusual structures, a new nomenclature is proposed which helps to identify opportunities for employing this structural unit for new architectures.