Rotaxanes synthetic methodology

Several reviews on rotaxanes and catenanes have appeared in the literature [13-16, 20-24, 27, 42-46]. The present review, mainly devoted to synthetic aspects, will be divided into two main topics. In the first part the synthetic methodology of rotaxanes will be presented and discussed, and illustrated with selected examples fi-om the literature. In the second part, we shall focus on the transition metal-template technique and its relevance to the preparation of rotaxanes. 

PART I SYNTHETIC METHODOLOGY OF ROTAXANES 1 Overview of the Synthetic Methodology of Rotaxanes... 

Synthetic methodology for the preparation of switchable rotaxanes has been primarily developed by Stoddart and coworkers [4]. In collaboration with Stoddart, the author s group reported in 1994 a molecular shuttle that exhibited a novel feature dual control. In this rotaxane the average position of the bead could be controlled by both proton- and electron-transfer reactions... 

Whereas the click chemistry-based synthesis of rotaxanes has been well illustrated in the course of the last few years, very different is the situation as far as the making of catenanes is concemed. It is likely that this reaction will be more often used in the future for making rings and, in particular, catenanes. The field of catenanes, rotaxanes and molecnlar machines will certainly benefit in a significant way from the new synthetic methodology based on copper-catalyzed triazole synthesis. 

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