Open Problems in Chemical Topology

• Published in: European Journal of Organic Chemistry Vol. 2008; no. 30; pp. 5023 - 5035
• Main Author: Fenlon, Edward E.
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.10.2008; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Catenanes; Macrocycles; Molec­ular knots; Nanostructures; Supramolec­ular chemistry
• ISSN: 1434-193X; 1099-0690
• DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.200800578

The historical origins of chemical topology are highlighted and seven open problems in the discipline are defined. The current state of experimental work towards their solutions is reviewed. Open problems discussed include size and tightness limits on molecular knots, synthesis of knots more complex than the trefoil, measurement of the enantiomerization barrier of a topological rubber glove, and syntheses of a polyethylene trefoil knot, a stable open knot with stoppers, and a molecular Whitehead link.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008) The current state of experimental work towards seven open problems in chemical topology is reviewed. Open problems discussed include size and tightness limits on knots, as well as the measurement of the enantiomerization barrier of a topological rubber glove, and syntheses of figure eight and pentafoil knots, a polyethylene trefoil knot, a stable rotaxaknot, and a molecular Whitehead link.