Phosphorus-Based Functional Groups as Hydrogen Bonding Templates for Rotaxane Formation

We report on the use of the hydrogen bond acceptor properties of some phosphorus-containing functional groups for the assembly of a series of [2]rotaxanes. Phosphinamides, and the homologous thio– and selenophosphinamides, act as hydrogen bond acceptors that, in conjunction with an appropriately positioned amide group on the thread, direct the assembly of amide-based macrocycles around the axle to form rotaxanes in up to 60% yields. Employing solely phosphorus-based functional groups as the hydrogen bond accepting groups on the thread, a bis(phosphinamide) template and a phosphine oxide–phosphinamide template afforded the corresponding rotaxanes in 18 and 15% yields, respectively. X-ray crystallography of the rotaxanes shows the presence of up to four intercomponent hydrogen bonds between the amide groups of the macrocycle and various hydrogen bond accepting groups on the thread, including rare examples of amide-to-phosphinamide, -thiophosphinamide, and -selenophosphinamide groups. With a phosphine oxide–...