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Lanthanide template synthesis of a molecular trefoil knot
Jean-François Ayme1, Guzmán Gil-Ramírez, David A Leigh
1School of Chemistry, University of Manchester , Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
We report on a complex featuring three 2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide ligands entwined around a lanthanide (Ln(3+)) ion. The ligand strands can be cyclized by ring-closing olefin metathesis to form a molecular trefoil knot in 58% yield. Demetalation with tetraethylammonium fluoride quantitatively generates the wholly organic 81-atom-loop trefoil knot.
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