Halogen- and Hydrogen-bonding Catenanes for Halide-anion Recognition

Halogen-bonding (XB) interactions were exploited in the solution-phase assembly of anion-templated pseudorotaxanes between an isophthalamide-containing macrocycle and bromo- or iodo-functionalised pyridinium threading components. (1)H NMR spectroscopic titration investigations demonstrated that such XB interpenetrated assemblies are more stable than analogous hydrogen bonding (HB) pseudorotaxanes. The stability of the anion-templated halogen-bonded pseudorotaxane architectures was exploited in the preparation of new halogen-bonding interlocked catenane species through a Grubbs' ring-closing metathesis (RCM) clipping methodology. The catenanes' anion recognition properties in the competitive CDCl(3)/CD(3) OD 1:1 solvent mixture revealed selectivity for the heavier halides iodide and bromide over chloride and acetate.