Final Report Summary - SUPRAMOLORGANOCAT (Applications of organocatalysis to supramolecular chemistry)
The aim of this project was to develop and investigate for the first time the application of organocatalytic chemistry to complex structure synthesis in supramolecular chemistry. In particular, I intend to investigate the utility of these reactions in facilitating the first organocatalytic 'active template' synthesis of rotaxanes.
The development of synthetic routes towards macrocyclic analogues of imidazolidinone, proline and prolinol ether organocatalysts was undertaken - promising results in the synthesis of the proline macrocycle were achieved. Several reaction conditions and reactants were screened to effect rotaxane formation via proline-macrocyle-mediated organocatalysis; however, early attempts were unsuccessful. Latterly, efforts were directed at modifications to the design of the macrocycle, to improve the reactivity of the macrocyclic organocatalyst.