Macrocyclic vs. [2]catenane btp structures: influence of (aryl) substitution on the self templation of btp ligands in macrocyclic synthesis

The synthesis of four 2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine(btp) olefin based ligands 3, 4, 11 and 12 is described and their formation of macrocyclic products using ring closing metatheses (RCM) reactions rather than mechanically interlocked molecules.