Complementarity of 2,6-Dimethanolpyridine and Di(ethylene glycol) in the Complexation of Na+ Ions: Attaching Multiple Copies of [2]Catenane Branches to Isophthalaldehyde-Containing Cores.

In this study we found that 2,6-dimethanolpyridine displays good complementarity toward di(ethylene glycol) for the complexation of Na+ ions, allowing us to use this recognition system for the efficient synthesis of hetero[2]catenanes; indeed, it allowed us to attach multiple copies of [2]catenanes to branched systems presenting multiple isophthalaldehyde units. When we attempted to form a catenane from a preformed macrocycle featuring only a single di(ethylene glycol) unit, reacting it with a di(ethylene glycol) derivative presenting two amino termini, isophthalaldehyde, and templating Na+ ions [i.e., with the aim of using di(ethylene glycol)·Na+·di(ethylene glycol) recognition to template the formation of the interlocked imino macrocycle], the yields of the hetero[2]catenane and homo[2]catenane, comprising two imino macrocyclic units, were both poor (14% and 7%, respectively). In contrast, when one or two 2,6-dimethanolpyridine units were present in the preformed macrocycles, their reactions with the same diamine, dialdehyde, and Na+ ions provided the hetero[2]catenanes with high selectivity and efficiency (44% and 64% yields, respectively), with minimal formation of the competing homo[2]catenane. The high complementary of the 2,6-dimethanolpyridine·Na+·di(ethylene glycol) ligand pair allowed us to synthesize [2]catenane dimers and trimers directly from corresponding isophthalaldehyde-presenting cores, with yields, after subsequent reduction and methylation, of 42% and 31%, respectively.

Size effects in the alkali metal ion-templated formation of oligo(ethylene glycol)-containing [2]catenanes.

An investigation into the most suitable alkali metal ions for templating the assembly of [2]catenanes from di-, tri-, and tetra(ethylene glycol)-containing guest diamines and isophthalaldehyde has indicated that Na(+), K(+), and Rb(+) ions are optimal for preparing [2]catenanes containing at least one di(ethylene glycol) unit, two tri(ethylene glycol) units, and at least one tetra(ethylene glycol) unit [in the absence of a di(ethylene glycol) unit], respectively.

Rotaxanes synthesized through sodium-ion-templated clipping of macrocycles around nonconjugated amide and urea functionalities.

A single urea or amide functionality in a dumbbell-shaped guest can be "clipped" by a macrocycle generated from a diamine and a dialdehyde through the templating effect of a Na(+) ion (see scheme). The resulting imine-containing rotaxanes can then be reduced to allow isolation of stable amine-based rotaxanes.