Amidinium Carboxylate Salt Bridges as a Recognition Motif for Mechanically Interlocked Molecules: Synthesis of an Optically Active [2]Catenane and Control of Its Structure

Abstract

Salty catenane: An optically active [2]catenane was synthesized by utilizing an amidinium carboxylate salt bridge (see picture). The relative motion of the two macrocyclic components was completely controlled by an acid/base or Zn2+/cryptand couple.