Gottfried Schill

Mechanisch verknüpfte Moleküle Catenane und Rotaxane

Catenanes and rotaxanes are mechanically linked molecules. They can only be separated into their individual components by rupture of a chemical bond. Naturally occurring catenanes were repeatedly isolated from mitochondrial DNA. The synthesis of catenanes and rotaxanes may be accomplished by statistical or directed methods. The work thus far done in this field is reviewed. The unusual structure of catenanes and rotaxanes can be proved with certainty by mass spectrometry.