Rotaxanes and polyrotaxanes. Synthesis and supramolecular devices based onthem

Various approaches to the synthesis of rotaxanes and polyrotaxanes are cons idered. The principles of design of highly organised structures containing rod polymer molecules (macromolecular inclusion complexes) are discussed. I n addition to the conventional (step-by-step) method involving polymerisati on of monomers in the presence of macrocycles, the use of molecular self-as sembly principles plays an increasing role. Attention is focused on the syn thesis and properties of inclusion complexes based on cyclodextrins and lin ear synthetic polymers.