Pseudorotaxanes directed approach

A similar template-directed approach was employed (Figure 31) by Anderson et al. [48] to self-assemble azo-dye [2]rotaxanes. The azobenzene diazonium salt 98 is bound by a-cyclodextrin 99 and also by / -cyclodextrin 100 in H20 with pseudorotaxane geometries. Reaction of the terminal diazonium functions with / -naphthol 101 affords the purple [2]rotaxanes 102 and 103 in yields of 12 and 15%, respectively. These two [2]rotaxanes were characterized by electrospray mass spectrometry which revealed peaks corresponding to the loss of all four sodium cations in both cases. By irradiating some of the protons of the dumbbellshaped components of these [2]rotaxanes, enhancement of the resonances of some of the cyclodextrin protons could be observed as a result of an intercomponent... 

---