Control over the macrocyclisation pathway and product topology in a copper-templated catenane synthesis.

We report here that the product topology in a copper-templated catenane synthesis can be controlled by favouring a particular macrocyclisation pathway, offering an additional strategy for improving the efficiency of catenane formation. A linear [4]catenane was obtained by non-covalently modifying a flexible building block that favours the intra-ligand cyclisation.