Synthesis of Polyyne Rotaxanes

Abstract

Active-metal templating has been used to synthesize rotaxanes consisting of a phenanthroline-based macrocycle threaded around a C8, C12, or C20 polyyne chain. The crystal structure of the C12 rotaxane has been determined. In the rhenium(I) carbonyl complex of this rotaxane, with Re(CO)₃Cl coordinated to the phenanthroline macrocycle, the proximity of the polyyne chain quenches the luminescence of the rhenium. These rotaxanes offer a new approach to controlling the environment and interactions of a polyyne chain