Catenanes directed approach

Figure 2. Template-directed approaches to (a) a hetero[2]catenane and (b and c) a homo[2]catenane. The terms hetero and homo indicate whether the two macrocyclic components of the [2]catenane are different or identical, respectively.

After the very early achievements due to the real pioneers of chemical topology who forty years ago first acceeded to that intriguing molecule that is a catenane (by statistical threading approach Wasserman, 1960 or by a directed approach Liittringhaus and Schill, 1964), this peculiar field of research concerned with molecules whose prime feature rests without doubt on beauty and non trivial spacial arrangement, has in the beginning of the 80 s literaly exploded with the apparition of various templated approaches. 

Molecular interlocked systems such as catenanes and rotaxanes can also be prepared using anion-directed approaches. Although anionic templates did not make their way into this area until relatively recently, nowadays there are several examples that demonstrate the utility of this approach for the synthesis of this topologically interesting species. 

Another fascinating approach to catenanes via self-assembly involves metal-coordination which templates or directs the assembly of catenane frameworks. After brief discussions on the recent examples of metal-containing catenanes and related topologically interesting molecules (Sections 4.2.1-4.2.3), the focus will be on the self-assembly of Pd(II)-linked catenanes (Sections 4.2.4 and 4.2.5). 

There are two distinct approaches to catenane synthesis the statistical approach, and approaches relying on self-assembly, so-called directed synthesis . The statistical approach relies on the small chance that macrocyclisation may occur while a linear precursor is threaded through a macrocyclic component. Because this is a rather unlikely eventuality, it naturally results in low yields of interlinked product and is chiefly of historical interest. It was this kind of statistical approach that resulted in the first synthesis of a [2] catenane by Wasserman in 1960 (10.64), from cyclisation of the long-chain diester 10.65 while threaded through the annulus of a deuterated C34 cycloalkane 10.66 (Scheme 10.11), 57 Although the overall yield of the catenation reaction was less than 1 %, the existence of the catenane was firmly established. The relatively polar [2] catenane product, along with other polar macrocyclisation reaction products and... 

Fortunately, more efficient methods for the complexation of macrocyclic hosts with acyclic guest molecules have become available with the advent of supramo-lecular chemistry, resulting in higher yields in rotaxane and catenane synthesis. In the following sections, the preparation of different types of interlocked molecules, with the use of host-guest recognition, is discussed. It should be noted that these template-directed methods differ significantly from the above-mentioned stochastic approach [28]. 

Fig. 8 The two applied approaches to catenane synthesis prior to 1983. (a) The first statistical synthesis [58] relied upon the macrocyclization of a linear compound (7) in the presence of a deuterated cycloalkane (III) to achieve small amounts of the catenane V. (b) The first example [59] of directed synthesis by covalent templation was a catenane that formed after cleaving the covalent bonds around the aromatic core in compound 16. Reproduced with permission from [58] (copyright 1960 American Chemical Society), [59] (copyright 1964 Wiley-VCH)...

In order to extend their studies to more complex systems, the Stoddart group directed their efforts towards the synthesis of the bis-[2]-catenane 16. The approach... 

The early syntheses of catenanes and rotaxanes were mainly based on statistical threading approaches or on directed methodologies involving chemical conversion [30]. To obtain a catenated molecule, one ring must be closed in the presence of a... 

The first catenanes and rotaxanes were constructed by either statistical [2] or directed [3] synthetic approaches. The statistical method relies [2] on the formation of small quantities of a species in which a cyclic molecule is threaded by an acyclic molecule. After experiencing appropriate covalent bond formation, these threaded species are con-... 

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