“Small” functionalised Rotaxanes Seminar

The active template approach to mechanically interlocked molecules is a versatile and powerful method for synthesising catenanes and rotaxanes which are difficult or impossible to form using other methods. Our group have pioneered the use of “small” macrocycles in active template reactions in order to allow the synthesis of small(er), functionalised rotaxanes in excellent yield. I will describe some of our recent applications of this methodology to the synthesis of functionalised, functional interlocked molecules including mechanically planar chiral rotaxanes, a previously hard to access class of chiral molecules.