An Inorganic Click Reaction for the Synthesis of Interlocked Molecules

Abstract

AbstractWe describe the use of the cyaphide‐azide 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction for the synthesis of a new class of inorganic rotaxanes containing gold(I) triazaphosphole stoppers. Electron‐deficient bis‐azides, which thread perethylated pillar[5]arene in aromatic solvents, readily react with two equivalents of Au(IDipp)(CP) (IDipp=1,3‐bis‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene) to afford interlocked molecules via an inorganic click reaction. These transformations proceed in good yields (ca. 65 %) and in the absence of a catalyst. The resulting organometallic rotaxanes are air‐ and moisture‐stable and can be purified by column chromatography under aerobic conditions. The targeted rotaxanes were characterized by multi‐element nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass‐spectrometry, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.