A new macrocycle that forms pseudorotaxane-like complexes with dibenzylammonium ions

A new host molecule in which only one diethylene glycol chain (i.e., a loop possessing only three oxygen atoms) suitably positioned in a macroring recognizes a DBA+ ion to form a 1:1 pseudorotaxane-like complex. To confirm unambiguously that the pseudorotaxane exists in solution, a corresponding interlocked rotaxane molecule was synthesized.