Superstructures with cyclodextrins: Chemistry and applications IV

• Published in: Beilstein journal of organic chemistry Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 2157 - 2159
• Main Author: Wenz, Gerhard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Beilstein-Institut zur Föerderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften 18.10.2017; Beilstein-Institut
• Subjects: Catalysis; Chemistry; Cyclodextrin; cyclodextrins; Gadolinium; Macromolecules; Magnetic resonance imaging; NMR; Nobel prizes; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Polymerization; superstructures; superstructures; cyclodextrins
• ISSN: 1860-5397; 2195-951X; 1860-5397
• DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.13.215

Superstructures can also be held together by repulsive forces, so-called mechanical bonds [6], as exemplified in catenanes, rotaxanes, and knots [7]. Because of their restricted mobility, rotaxanes are well-suited for the design of molecular machines, which were the subject of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry [8–9]. Since superstructures are accessible through rational design, supramolecular chemistry had a great influence on organic and macromolecular chemistry as well as pharmacology and materials sciences. A [3]-rotaxane was assembled from two monosubstituted α-CD rings, α,ω-dodecamethylene diazide axis, and two bulky alkyne stoppers through a copper-catalyzed [2 + 3] cycloaddition in one step. Because of the attached gadolinium complexes, this rotaxane showed a high NMR relaxivity, making it suitable as a probe for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [22].