Introduction of a Long Alkyl Side Chain to Poly(benzimidazole)s. N-Alkylation of the Imidazole Ring and Synthesis of Novel Side Chain Polyrotaxanes

Mechanically interlocked polymers based on rotaxanes

The nature of mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) has continued to encourage researchers to design and construct a variety of high-performance materials. Introducing mechanically interlocked structures into polymers has led to novel polymeric materials, called mechanically interlocked polymers (MIPs). Rotaxane-based MIPs are an important class, where the mechanically interlocked characteristic retains a high degree of structural freedom and mobility of their components, such as the rotation and sliding motions of rotaxane units. Therefore, these MIP materials are known to possess a unique set of properties, including mechanical robustness, adaptability and responsiveness, which endow them with potential applications in many emerging fields, such as protective materials, intelligent actuators, and mechanisorption. In this review, we outline the synthetic strategies, structure-property relationships, and application explorations of various polyrotaxanes, including linear polyrotaxanes, polyrotaxane networks, and rotaxane dendrimers.

Cyclodextrin Rotaxanes of Pt Complexes and Their Conversion to Pt Nanoparticles

The cationic Pt complex (Pt(NC₆H₄-C₆H₄N-(CH₂)₁₀-O(C₆H₃-3,5-(OMe)₂)(MeN-(CH₂CH₂NMe₂)₂))⁺ was prepared by the reaction of alkylbipyridinium ligand with a nitrateplatinum(II) complex. Mixing the complex and α- and β-cyclodextrins in aqueous media produced the corresponding [2]rotaxanes with 1:1 stoichiometry. γ-Cyclodextrin and the Pt complex formed a rotaxane having components in a 1:1 or 2:1 molar ratio. The results of mass and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements confirmed the rotaxane structures of the Pt complexes. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) analyses revealed the formation of micelles or vesicles. The addition of NaBH₄ to the rotaxanes in aqueous media formed Pt nanoparticles with diameters of 1.3-2.8 nm, as characterized by TEM. The aggregated size of the nanoparticles formed from the rotaxane did not change even at 70 °C, and they showed higher thermal stability than those obtained from the reduction of the cyclodextrin-free Pt complex.

N,N'-(Hexane-1,6-diyl)bis(4-methyl-N-(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)benzenesulfonamide): Synthesis via cyclodextrin mediated N-alkylation in aqueous solution and further Prilezhaev epoxidation

N-alkylation of N,N'-(hexane-1,6-diyl)bis(4-methylbenzenesulfonamide) with allyl bromide and subsequent Prilezhaev reaction with m-chloroperbenzoic acid to give N,N'-(hexane-1,6-diyl)bis(4-methyl-N-(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)benzenesulfonamide) is described. This twofold alkylation was performed in aqueous solution, whereby α-, and randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin were used as adequate phase transfer catalysts and the cyclodextrin–guest complexes were characterized by ¹H NMR and 2D NMR ROESY spectroscopy. Finally, the curing properties of the diepoxide with lysine-based α-amino-ε-caprolactam were analyzed by rheological measurements.

Competing Supramolecular Assembly of Amphiphiles to Form Micelles or Pseudorotaxanes

[reaction: see text] Micelles of an amphiphile that encapsulate the added dye in water can be released, upon addition of alpha-CD, to form pseudorotaxane. The equilibrium between the micelles and the pseudorotaxanes and the absorption spectra of solution are controlled by temperature reversibly.

Synthesis and characterization of polyrotaxane-based polymeric continuous beds for capillary electrochromatography

The continuous bed technique with its attractive features, such as fritless design, one-step in situ synthesis, low back pressure and no need for pressurising the electrode vessels to suppress bubble formation was applied to form polyrotaxane-based stationary phases for capillary electrochromatography (CEC). Rotaxanes are synthesized from two classes of substances, namely linear reactive monomers and inert cyclic compounds. Upon polymerisation, a gel forms with the cyclic molecules mechanically immobilized (see Fig. 1). We have employed this simple approach, using charged derivatives of cyclodextrins in order to introduce charged groups into continuous beds and thus render them appropriate for electrochromatography. The self-assembly of supramolecular structures to form rotaxanes during the synthesis of the continuous beds is treated. The electroosmotic and chromatographic properties of the various polyrotaxane-based stationary phases synthesized are discussed, as well as the synthesis of the continuous beds, including how to affect their porosity and its influence on the efficiency of the electrokinetic separation. The applicability of the rotaxane-based continuous bed is demonstrated by separation of model compounds by reversed- and normal-phase chromatography. A separation of enantiomers is also presented. This experiment is of particular interest because it indicates that the interaction with the cavity of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) is not a fundamental requirement for enantioseparations.