Discoveries from a phenanthroline-based dynamic combinatorial library: catenane from a copper(i) or copper(ii) template?

Abstract

We report here a DCL study of a phenanthroline-based building block focusing on catenane formation with copper templates. Two [2]catenanes have been amplified by using Cu⁺ as a template from the DCLs that contain no interlocked compounds in the absence of copper. In addition, an unexpected Cu²⁺ template effect on the [2]catenane formation was discovered. The observed Cu²⁺ template effect was found to originate from the in situ reduction of the divalent metal to Cu⁺.