The Schotten-Baumann reaction between a diamine with a central bitolyl
unit and terephthaloyl chloride in the presence of heptakis(2,6-di-0-
methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (Dm-beta-CD) in dilute solution affords the
[2]catenanes 1 and 2 as well as two analogous [3]catenanes, in which t
wo DM-beta-CD units are threaded on a tetrakislactam ring. In catenane
1 the bitolyl unit is found to be situated inside the cyclodextrin to
rus.