Reversible five-component assembly of a [2]catenane from a chiral metallomacrocycle and a dinaphtho-crown ether

Abstract

Addition of a dinaphtho-crown ether to the components of a chiral metallomacrocycle affords a [2]catenane as the exclusive thermodynamic product; the reversible assembly process is driven by a combination of zinc(II)–bipyridyl ligation and π-donor/π-acceptor interactions between the electronically complementary aromatic components.