Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.136, No.38, 13142-13145, 2014
Lanthanide Template Synthesis of a Molecular Trefoil Knot
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 5896 yield. Demetalation with tetraethylammonium fluoride quantitatively generates the wholly organic 81-atom-loop trefoil knot.