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Two-stage directed self-assembly of a cyclic [3]catenane.


Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Wood, Christopher S 
Ronson, Tanya K 
Belenguer, Ana M 
Holstein, Julian J 
Nitschke, Jonathan R 

Abstract

Interlocked molecules possess properties and functions that depend upon their intricate connectivity. In addition to the topologically trivial rotaxanes, whose structures may be captured by a planar graph, the topologically non-trivial knots and catenanes represent some of chemistry's most challenging synthetic targets because of the three-dimensional assembly necessary for their construction. Here we report the synthesis of a cyclic [3]catenane, which consists of three mutually interpenetrating rings, via an unusual synthetic route. Five distinct building blocks self-assemble into a heteroleptic triangular framework composed of two joined Fe(II)3L3 circular helicates. Subcomponent exchange then enables specific points in the framework to be linked together to generate the cyclic [3]catenane product. Our method represents an advance both in the intricacy of the metal-templated self-assembly procedure and in the use of selective imine exchange to generate a topologically complex product.

Description

Keywords

0303 Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, 0305 Organic Chemistry

Journal Title

Nat Chem

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1755-4330
1755-4349

Volume Title

7

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/I005447/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/J001163/1)
European Commission (264645)
This work was supported by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and a Marie Curie fellowship for J.J.H. (ITN-2010–264645). The authors thank the Diamond Light Source (UK) for synchrotron beamtime on I19 (MT7984 and MT8464).