A reproducible metallocyclic motif containing amino-acid functionalised aromatic diimides has been employed to demonstrate remarkable control over entanglement topologies. [2]-Catenane and pseudo-rotaxane units give rise to 1D → 2D polycatenation, the formation of which can be sterically prevented, and a unique 1D → 3D polyrotaxane.

Absorption of 808 nm laser light by liposomes containing a pH sensitive, near-infrared croconaine rotaxane dye increases dramatically in weak acid. A stealth liposome composition permits acid activated, photothermal heating and also acts as an effective nanoparticle probe for ratiometric photoacoustic imaging of acidic pH in deep sample locations, including a living mouse.

Rotacatenanes were synthesized by the catalytic reaction using a macrocyclic phenanthroline-CuI complex followed by the installation of another ring by the template method. In this approach, the size of the ring component of the rotaxane turns out to be a very important factor for the synthesis of rotacatenanes.

A tight [2]rotaxane with two chromophores as stoppers is described, in which the macrocycle is able to reversibly move by tuning of base. This moving process can result in intramolecular photo-induced electron transfer (PET), changing the photo-physical properties.

An effective self-assembly route for construction of Pt(II)-bridged [3]rotaxane functionalized gold nanoparticles was developed through a stepwise introduction of Pt(II) coordination and gold-thiol binding in turn. The sequential self-assembly process can be quantitatively controlled and directly monitored by the naked eye.

A topologically novel [2]rota[2]catenane containing both a pillar[5]arene-imidazolium based [2]rotaxane subunit and a crown ether-tetracationic cyclophane based [2]catenane one was designed and constructed. The structure of the [2]rota[2]catenane was thoroughly characterized by NMR spectra, MS spectrometry and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

Addressing an array of bistable [2]rotaxanes through a two-dimensional crossbar arrangement provides the device element of a current-driven molecular electronic circuit. The development of the [2]rotaxane switches through an iterative, evolutionary process is described. The arrangement reported here allows both memory and logic functions to use the same elements.

A simple versatile route to polyrotaxanes with a variety of topologies is described through the synthesis and subsequent polymerization of readily accessible and stable rotaxane monomers containing bulky blocked isocyanate stopper groups. Link to download paper: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.200351458/abstract

This autobiographical review provides a personal account of the author's academic journey in supramolecular chemistry, including brief summaries of research efforts in membrane transport, molecular imaging, ion-pair receptors, rotaxane synthesis, squaraine rotaxanes, and synthtavidin technology. The article concludes with a short perspective of likely future directions in biomedical supramolecu...

Examples of using two-dimensional shape-persistent macrocycles, i.e. those having noncollapsible and geometrically well-defined skeletons, for constructing mechanically interlocked molecules are scarce, which contrasts the many applications of these macrocycles in molecular recognition and functional self-assembly. Herein, we report the crucial role played by macrocyclic shape-persistency in en...