THREADING MOLECULAR STRINGS ONTO MOLECULAR RINGS - SYNTHESIS OF ROTAXANES BY USE OF CYCLODEXTRINS

The first synthesis of [2]-rotaxane was reported in 1960. Cyclodextrin s (CDX) were used for the first time as the molecular rings of rotaxan es in 1981. In this synthesis, alpha, omega-diaminoalkanes and metal c omplexes were used as molecular strings and stoppers, respectively. Si nce that time, CDX has been found to be a very useful and convenient m olecular ring for the synthesis of rotaxanes. The use of metal complex es as stoppers is currently very popular and the yields of rotaxanes c ontaining CDX have been improved. Quantitative yields of the formation of rotaxanes were reported in 1992.