title: Magic ring catenation by olefin metathesis.
abstract: [reaction: see text]. Olefin metathesis has been employed in the efficient syntheses of a [2]catenane with the templation being provided by the recognition between a secondary ammonium ion and a crown ether. In one approach, a crown ether precursor has been clipped around an NH2+ center situated in a macrocyclic ring, yielding the mechanically interlocked compound. In the other approach, the reversible nature of olefin metathesis allows for a magic ring synthesis to occur wherein two free macrocycles can be employed as the stationary materials, leading to the formation of the same [2]catenane.
authors.affiliation: The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Laboratory of Chemical Synthesis, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
authors.forename: Erin N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Guidry
authors.forename: Stuart J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cantrill
authors.forename: J Fraser
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Stoddart
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Grubbs