Small Functional Rotaxanes

The active template approach to mechanically interlocked molecules is a versatile and powerful method for synthesising catenanes and rotaxanes which are difficult or impossible to form using other methods.1 Our group have pioneered the use of “small ” macrocycles in active template reactions in order to allow the synthesis of small(er), functionalised rotaxanes in excellent yield.2 I will describe some of our recent applications of this methodology to the synthesis of functional interlocked molecules including mechanically planar chiral rotaxanes (Fig. 1)