Our latest work, led by group alumnus Youzhi Xu is dedicated to the memory of Fraser Stoddart! In May, I asked him about his favourite molecule made in his lab. After a while, he said: the "Olympiadane" ABCBA-type [5]catenane. @damabilino.bsky.social #chemsky
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Ring‐in‐Ring Assembly Facilitates the Synthesis of a [12]Cycloparaphenylene ABC‐Type [3]Catenane
By threading a secondary ammonium salt through the crown ether and closing the third ring via CuAAC click reaction, we obtained a rare ABC-type hetero-[3]catenane comprising [12]CPP, 24-crown-8 and a...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 28, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Our latest work, led by group alumnus Youzhi Xu is dedicated to the memory of Fraser Stoddart! In May, I asked him about his favourite molecule made in his lab. After a while, he said: the "Olympiadane" ABCBA-type [5]catenane. @damabilino.bsky.social #chemsky
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Fully π-Conjugated [2]Catenane with Switchable Mechanical Chirality
chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr... #PiSky
chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr... #PiSky
May 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Fully π-Conjugated [2]Catenane with Switchable Mechanical Chirality
chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr... #PiSky
chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr... #PiSky
Our democratically elected #paperofthemonth is Anderson's solution-phase stabilization of a cyclocarbon through catenane formation. Congrats to the Oxford team on this milestone!
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
Solution-phase stabilization of a cyclocarbon by catenane formation
Cyclo[N]carbons, molecular rings consisting solely of N carbon atoms, have previously been studied in the gas phase and on surfaces at cryogenic temperatures, but they are generally considered too rea...
doi.org
September 16, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Our democratically elected #paperofthemonth is Anderson's solution-phase stabilization of a cyclocarbon through catenane formation. Congrats to the Oxford team on this milestone!
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
In @science.org this week, Harry Anderson's group finally put their cyclic carbon allotrope into solution. The, well, solution to getting it there? Protection by catenation--have a look!
chemsky🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
chemsky🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Solution-phase stabilization of a cyclocarbon by catenane formation
Cyclo[N]carbons, molecular rings consisting solely of N carbon atoms, have previously been studied in the gas phase and on surfaces at cryogenic temperatures, but they are generally considered too rea...
www.science.org
August 14, 2025 at 7:51 PM
In @science.org this week, Harry Anderson's group finally put their cyclic carbon allotrope into solution. The, well, solution to getting it there? Protection by catenation--have a look!
chemsky🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
chemsky🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Oh, you have a machine that goes bing? Well guess what chemsky? @science.org has a machine that goes RING! On the cover this week, Michael Kathan’s group use a Feringa-type rotary motor to produce catenanes! 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
A molecular machine directs the synthesis of a catenane
Precise mechanical manipulation of molecules is inherently difficult owing to random thermal motion. Although directed movement on the molecular scale has been achieved, using it to impose specific—es...
www.science.org
July 31, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Oh, you have a machine that goes bing? Well guess what chemsky? @science.org has a machine that goes RING! On the cover this week, Michael Kathan’s group use a Feringa-type rotary motor to produce catenanes! 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Now online:
Article by Chun Tang, Ruihua Zhang & co-workers
A compact catenane with tuneable mechanical chirality
www.nature.com/articles/s44... ($)
#ChemSky
Article by Chun Tang, Ruihua Zhang & co-workers
A compact catenane with tuneable mechanical chirality
www.nature.com/articles/s44... ($)
#ChemSky
A compact catenane with tuneable mechanical chirality - Nature Synthesis
Catenanes can exhibit chirality even when their component rings are achiral. Here an isostructural desymmetrization strategy is developed, demonstrating that two achiral rings, each featuring two mirr...
www.nature.com
April 16, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Now online:
Article by Chun Tang, Ruihua Zhang & co-workers
A compact catenane with tuneable mechanical chirality
www.nature.com/articles/s44... ($)
#ChemSky
Article by Chun Tang, Ruihua Zhang & co-workers
A compact catenane with tuneable mechanical chirality
www.nature.com/articles/s44... ($)
#ChemSky
Jean-Claude Chambron highlights the work by @profdaveleigh.bsky.social and co-workers on the synthesis of [2]catenanes from readily available molecular precursors via a metal-free active template approach. Have a look at the article at onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #AngewandteChemieNovit
Acceleration of [2]Catenane Formation by One of its Rings
This highlight underscores the most straightforward synthesis of [2]catenanes from readily available molecular precursors: The one-pot, two-step catenane formation from a crown ether, a linear diamin...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Jean-Claude Chambron highlights the work by @profdaveleigh.bsky.social and co-workers on the synthesis of [2]catenanes from readily available molecular precursors via a metal-free active template approach. Have a look at the article at onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #AngewandteChemieNovit
Published in #AngewandteChemieNovit: A kinetically controlled catenane synthesis that does not require persistent strong binding interactions nor the addition of templates by David A. Leigh & co-workers. Read it here: doi.org/10.1002/anov...
August 13, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Published in #AngewandteChemieNovit: A kinetically controlled catenane synthesis that does not require persistent strong binding interactions nor the addition of templates by David A. Leigh & co-workers. Read it here: doi.org/10.1002/anov...
TIL cyclo[48]carbon [4]catenane has like THREE WHOLE BUNNY RABBITS
![A chemical diagram of cyclo[48]carbon [4]catenane. When drawn out, it looks like a carbon ring with three bunny rabbits hugging it.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5ac46ljkoontq4off47b67bz/bafkreie2c4xypthg6ixhgumk7tzvqp7hulyrhiwuqrntvfqe3vz7n6ewp4)
August 16, 2025 at 4:53 PM
TIL cyclo[48]carbon [4]catenane has like THREE WHOLE BUNNY RABBITS
A circular molecule made up of just 48 carbons has been stabilised using macrocycles. This has allowed this kind of normally fleeting carbon allotrope to be bottled and investigated
www.chemistryworld.com/news/ring-of...
www.chemistryworld.com/news/ring-of...
Ring of pure carbon stabilised by its catenane connections
C48 carbon allotrope can be isolated in solution
www.chemistryworld.com
August 15, 2025 at 9:41 AM
A circular molecule made up of just 48 carbons has been stabilised using macrocycles. This has allowed this kind of normally fleeting carbon allotrope to be bottled and investigated
www.chemistryworld.com/news/ring-of...
www.chemistryworld.com/news/ring-of...
Today's daily morning seminar
doi.org/10.1002/slct...
doi.org/10.1002/slct...
Metal Ion‐Responsive Dynamics in a Homo [2]Catenane: Circumrotation and Pirouetting
Using one pot double ring closing amide bond formation, homo [2]catenate and corresponding catenane having two sets of orthogonal templating centers were synthesized. In the process of demetalation a...
doi.org
September 24, 2026 at 11:51 PM
Today's daily morning seminar
doi.org/10.1002/slct...
doi.org/10.1002/slct...
The researchers worked with now late Nobel laureate Fraser Stoddart on the new strategy, which they say could act as inspiration to the pharmaceutical and materials science industries.
Catenane with tuneable mechanical chirality created
The chirality of a compact cationic catenane can be controlled using chiral sulfonate anions
www.chemistryworld.com
April 25, 2025 at 8:45 AM
The researchers worked with now late Nobel laureate Fraser Stoddart on the new strategy, which they say could act as inspiration to the pharmaceutical and materials science industries.
I get to say “catenane” and “decatention” pretty much every day and it’s delightful
May 13, 2025 at 5:32 PM
I get to say “catenane” and “decatention” pretty much every day and it’s delightful
Fantastic first work by former group member Youzhi Xu at Henan U!👇 It is hard enough to make a hetero[3]catenane. They did it in 35% yield via "ring-in-ring synthesis" from two commercial macrocycles😮!!! We were very happy to help with MS-MS studies. #chemsky
chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...
chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...
October 17, 2024 at 11:49 AM
Fantastic first work by former group member Youzhi Xu at Henan U!👇 It is hard enough to make a hetero[3]catenane. They did it in 35% yield via "ring-in-ring synthesis" from two commercial macrocycles😮!!! We were very happy to help with MS-MS studies. #chemsky
chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...
chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...
C48 Cyclocarbon catenane! Congratulations, Harry - phys.org/news/2025-08... #PiSky
Chemists synthesize a new allotrope of carbon
In a new study led by Oxford University's Department of Chemistry, chemists have demonstrated the synthesis of a cyclocarbon that is stable enough for spectroscopic characterization in solution at roo...
phys.org
August 15, 2025 at 4:16 PM
C48 Cyclocarbon catenane! Congratulations, Harry - phys.org/news/2025-08... #PiSky
January 10, 2025 at 12:28 PM
In Situ Encapsulation of Cationic [2]Catenane in a Stable Zirconium Metal–Organic Framework http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c04895
June 12, 2025 at 1:24 PM
In Situ Encapsulation of Cationic [2]Catenane in a Stable Zirconium Metal–Organic Framework http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c04895
A simple mathematical model has been used by chemists to create interwoven catananes. Greater control over the synthesis process could allow scientists to produce more complex interlinked molecules.
Probability model guides synthesis of interwoven catenane structure
Organic cage-like compounds selectively form intricate structure during one-pot synthesis
www.chemistryworld.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:02 PM
A simple mathematical model has been used by chemists to create interwoven catananes. Greater control over the synthesis process could allow scientists to produce more complex interlinked molecules.
Now online:
Article by Zebing Zeng, Jishan Wu, Yong Ni & co-workers
Aromaticity and through-space electronic coupling in [2]catenanes comprising two intertwined globally electron-delocalized octaphyrinoid rings
www.nature.com/articles/s44... ($)
#Chemsky
Article by Zebing Zeng, Jishan Wu, Yong Ni & co-workers
Aromaticity and through-space electronic coupling in [2]catenanes comprising two intertwined globally electron-delocalized octaphyrinoid rings
www.nature.com/articles/s44... ($)
#Chemsky
Aromaticity and through-space electronic coupling in [2]catenanes comprising two intertwined globally electron-delocalized octaphyrinoid rings - Nature Synthesis
A [2]catenane comprising two intertwined aromatic (34π) octaphyrinoid rings with entangled magnetic shielding interactions is synthesized. Upon four-electron oxidation, the system converts to a tetrac...
www.nature.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Now online:
Article by Zebing Zeng, Jishan Wu, Yong Ni & co-workers
Aromaticity and through-space electronic coupling in [2]catenanes comprising two intertwined globally electron-delocalized octaphyrinoid rings
www.nature.com/articles/s44... ($)
#Chemsky
Article by Zebing Zeng, Jishan Wu, Yong Ni & co-workers
Aromaticity and through-space electronic coupling in [2]catenanes comprising two intertwined globally electron-delocalized octaphyrinoid rings
www.nature.com/articles/s44... ($)
#Chemsky
'Like the stitching motions of a sewing machine – but at the molecular level' – a light-powered molecular motor produces catenanes, without the need for templating
Molecular motor stitches together catenane rings
The light-powered system produces interlocked rings, without the need for templating strategies
www.chemistryworld.com
August 14, 2025 at 3:35 PM
'Like the stitching motions of a sewing machine – but at the molecular level' – a light-powered molecular motor produces catenanes, without the need for templating
I mean, this is kinda a hybrid of their prizes… pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Magic Ring Catenation by Olefin Metathesis
Olefin metathesis has been employed in the efficient syntheses of a [2]catenane with the templation being provided by the recognition between a secondary ammonium ion and a crown ether. In one approac...
pubs.acs.org
February 22, 2026 at 10:11 PM
I mean, this is kinda a hybrid of their prizes… pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Our democratically elected #paperofthemonth (for December) is by H. Anderson: masked alkynes enable polyyne rotaxanes with up to 34 contiguous triple bonds. 👏 Next stop: C18 in bulk (as catenane). 🤞 #chemsky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Masked alkynes for synthesis of threaded carbon chains - Nature Chemistry
Long polyynes have fascinating properties but they are difficult to synthesize as a consequence of their high reactivity. Now, it has been shown that cobalt carbonyl complexes can be used as masked al...
www.nature.com
January 12, 2024 at 5:23 PM
Our democratically elected #paperofthemonth (for December) is by H. Anderson: masked alkynes enable polyyne rotaxanes with up to 34 contiguous triple bonds. 👏 Next stop: C18 in bulk (as catenane). 🤞 #chemsky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Probability model guides synthesis of interwoven catenane structure #Science #Chemistry #OrganicChemistry #Catenanes #MolecularSynthesis #ProbabilityModel
Probability model guides synthesis of interwoven catenane structure
Organic cage-like compounds selectively form intricate structure during one-pot synthesis
purescience.news
December 8, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Probability model guides synthesis of interwoven catenane structure #Science #Chemistry #OrganicChemistry #Catenanes #MolecularSynthesis #ProbabilityModel