Amide-based rotaxanes with terephthal, furan, thiophene and sulfonamide subunits

The synthesis and characterization of new amide-based rotaxanes 6b-d containing terephthal, furan and thiophene subunits is described. Furthermore, the First rotaxanes ever obtained with sulfonamide bonds 6e, f are reported. These mechanically bonded compounds can be prepared in only few simple steps in nonstatistical high yields (up to 41 %), which demonstrates that it is possible to significantly modify the structure of these species and of their components without disturbing the non-ionic template-effect responsible for the formation of their mechanical bonds.