Synthesis of a Five-Membered Molecular Necklace: A 2+2 Approach

Abstract

Like with a string of pearls, four molecular "beads" are threaded on a molecular rectangle to form a molecular necklace. This rectangular species is synthesized from two L-shaped, preorganized pseudorotaxanes with two molecular beads each (cucurbituril, schematically symbolized by the barrels), held together by Cu²⁺ ions [Eq. (1)].