Self-assembly of interlocked structures: Rotaxanes, polyrotaxanes and molecular necklaces

Abstract

Our recent work on construction of interlocked structures such as rotaxanes, polyrotaxanes and molecular necklaces using the principles of self assembly and coordination chemistry is described. In the synthesis of these structures, the barrel-shape molecule cucurbituril is used as a molecular "bead" and metal ions or metal complexes are used as "glue" or "angle connectors". Judicious choice of metal ions, counter ions and "strings" is important in order to construct the desired supramolecular structures.