Templates, wheeled reagents", and a new route to rotaxanes by anion complexation: The trapping method

The topological aspects of rotaxanes are compared with those of the other f amilies of mechanically interlocked molecules: catenanes and molecular knot s. The role of the different types of templates in the well-known threading and clipping procedures often used for rotaxane synthesis are discussed. F inally the conceptually new trapping method that is based on the action of supramolecular nucleophiles formed by anionic stopper wheel complexes is de scribed.