MULTIPORPHYRIN [2]-ROTAXANES AND [3]-CATENATES VIA COPPER(I)-TEMPLATED SYNTHESIS

Condensation of dipyrrylmethane units onto a copper(I) complex, in which a diphenylphenanthroline ligand bearing aldehyde functions is threaded into a phenanthroline-containing macrocycle, afforded a copper(I)-complexed bisporphyrin-stoppered [2]-rotaxane or a bis-porphyrin-bridged [3]-catenate, depending on whether a second, aromatic aldehyde was added to the reaction mixture or not. The isolated yields were 18 and 5% respectively. In a separate experiment, a macrocyclic compound identical to the central ring of the [3]-catenate (46-membered ring) has also been synthesized in 28% yield.