Amide-based [3]catenanes and [2]catenanes with aliphatic chains

[3]Catenanes of the amide type were synthesized preparatively for the first time. Large macrocycles bearing two guest-binding sites were used to synth esize these amide-linked [3]catenanes in yields of 4%, either by formation of rigid macrocyclic boxes, or with macrocycles consisting of flexible long -chained aliphatic diamines. Furthermore, the systematic introduction of 1, omega-alkane diamines as building blocks for catenanes is described. The sy nthesis of a series of [2]catenanes by varying the ring size of one of the two macrocycles was also achieved in yields of 10%.