Improbable rotaxane made using a foldamer helix

Rotaxane

Source: © Frédéric Coutrot/University of Montpellier

Macrocycle displaced to a site for which it has no formal affinity

Scientists have used a foldamer helix as a supramolecular aide to compartmentalise a rotaxane and displace its macrocycle to a site for which it has no real affinity. The product resulting from subsequent cleavage is an otherwise unlikely rotaxane.