[3]rotaxanes composed of two dibenzo-24-crown-8 ether wheels and an azamacrocyclic complex.

The azamacrocyclic complex was used as a platform for the construction of [3]rotaxanes containing two DB24C8 macrocycles per molecule. The complex unit incorporates two electron deficient -bond systems and two N-H hydrogen bond donating groups which facilitated the formation of a 1:2 interlocked structure. Synthesis and properties of such compounds are presented. Structures of the obtained compounds were confirmed by NMR spectroscopy, ESI mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Both [3]rotaxanes containing two DB24C8 macrocycles per molecule crystallise in P1 and P2(1)/n space groups. They have different counterions (PF6- and Cl- anions, respectively) and mostly disordered solvent molecules such as water, methanol and acetone. Both [3]rotaxanes have a flexible axle in which the Cl- salt takes the shape closer to the S-letter, while in the PF6- case the axle is more linear. The shape results from respective packing and intra-, and intermolecular interactions among the moieties in the rotaxane and the crystal lattice.