Template-Directed Syntheses of a Bis[2]catenane and a Bis[2]rotaxane - Towards Self-Assembling Polymers

Abstract

A conceptual approach towards self-assembling polymers is described in a couple of model experiments which both depend on the template-directed synthesis of two tethered cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) macrocycles (i) in the presence of the macrocyclic polyether, bisparaphenylene-34-crown-10, to give a bis[2]catenane and (ii) in the presence of a dumbbell-shaped compound, in which a linear polyether chain is intercepted by a naphthalene unit and terminated by two adamantoyl groups, to give a bis[2]rotaxane.