title: Dendrimer with rotaxane-like mechanical branching.
abstract: [reaction: see text] A dendrimer wherein the branching points are mechanical in nature has been synthesized. It contains two identical covalently linked bis-dendrons and a core unit fused to two rings that encircle the two bis-dendrons. A "threading-followed-by-stoppering" approach is used in the template-directed synthesis of a precursor bis[2]rotaxane, which undergoes stopper exchange four times to yield the dendrimer in which the two bis-dendrons act as stoppers within the two [2]rotaxane subunits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90095-1569, USA.
authors.forename: Arkadij M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Elizarov
authors.forename: Sheng-Hsien
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Peter T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Glink
authors.forename: J Fraser
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Stoddart