A series of catenanes have been synthesized through olefin metathesis from a BMP32C10-based
cryptand and paraquat guests attached with two terminal alkenes. Distribution of the
catenane products can be significantly affected by the linkage length on the paraquat
guests. In the presence of BMP32C10-based cryptand, the paraquat salt with a long
linkage facilitates intramolecular olefin metathesis to release a [2]catenane as the
sole catenation product, while the use of a paraquat salt with a shorter linkage leads
to the simultaneous generation of [2]-, [3]-, and [4]-catenanes.
Key words
catenanes - crown compounds - cryptands - paraquat - olefin metathesis - mechanically
interlocked molecules - host–guest systems - pseudorotaxanes