Strategies To Assemble Catenanes with Multiple Interlocked Macrocycles

As a major class of mechanically interlocked molecules, not only are catenanes topologically intriguing targets that challenge the chemical synthesis to the efficient formation of mechanical bonds, but also the mechanical properties arising from the topology offer unique and attractive features for the development of novel functional molecular materials. Despite advancements in templated methods for different types of interlocked architectures, [ n]catenane possessing multiple numbers of interlocked macrocycles still remains a difficult synthetic target with very few reported examples. If the unique mechanical properties of catenanes are to be fully exploited, reliable, controllable, and efficient strategies for accessing [ n]catenanes will be necessary. In this Viewpoint, challenges, considerations, and strategies to [ n]catenanes are discussed.