Bis[2]catenanes and a bis[2]rotaxane - Model compounds for polymers with mechanically interlocked components

The self-assembly of three bis[2]catenanes and a bis[2]rotaxane, by two complementary strategies, is reported. A synthetic route to derivatives of bis-para-phenylene[34]crown-10 (BPP34C10) and 1,5-naphtho-para-phenylene[36]crown-10 (1/5NPP36C10) containing a fused five-membered ring with a secondary amine function is described. These intermediate N-allylimido macrocyclic polyethers undergo template-directed reactions with 1,1'-[1,4-phenylenebis-(methylene)] bis-4,4'-bipyridinium bis(hexafluorophosphate) and 1,4-bis(bromo-methyl)benzene to produce [2]catenanes containing an N-allyl functionality. The N-allylimido macrocyclic polyethers have also been reduced and deprotected to afford macrocycles possessing a free NH group, which are then linked through a 4,4'-biphenyldicarbonyl spacer to produce bis(crown ether)s, in which each crown ether moiety has two recognition sites. These ditopic BPP34C10 and 1/5NPP36C10 derivatives are capable of sustaining self-assembly reactions at both recognition sites to yield bis[2]catenanes. The self-assembly of a complementary bis[2]catenane, in which two tetracationic cyclophanes are linked together with a flexible hexyl chain, has also been achieved by treating 1,1'-[1,4-phenylene-bis(methylene)]bis-4,4'-bipyridinium bis(hexafluorophosphate) with a compound containing two linked 1,4-bis(bromo-methyl)benzene units in the presence of BPP34C10. Replacing BPP34C10 with a dumbbell-shaped compound containing a linear polyether unit intercepted by a naphthalene residue and terminated by two bulky adamantoyl groups has led to the self-assembly of a bis[2]rotaxane. The X-ray crystal structures of one of the catenanes and its associated crown ether component are reported, together with solution state dynamic H-1 NMR spectroscopic studies, showing that there is substantial degree of order characterizing the molecular structure of the catenanes.