Abstract
Donor-acceptor [2]catenanes based on cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) as the π-acceptor ring have been used prominently in the construction of functional molecular devices. We report here their thermodynamically controlled synthesis from isolated π-donor and π-acceptor rings under the catalytic influence of tetrabutylammonium iodide. The initial nucleophilic attack of iodide ion, which opens up the π-acceptor ring, is followed by complexation to the π-donor ring and the subsequent catenation of the π-donor ring by the π-acceptor ring [2]catenane. The reaction is general in scope and proceeds in high yields, without giving rise to side-products.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 12966-12970 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
Volume | 104 |
Issue number | 32 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 7 2007 |
Keywords
- Mechanically interlocked molecules
- Nucleophilic catalysis
- Self-assembly
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General