Octapi Interactions: Self-Assembly of a Pd-Based [2]Catenane Driven by Eightfold π Interactions

An unprecedented 2.5 nm array of 17 interactions between eight aromatic rings drives the formation of a [2]catenane. Disruption of this array through the use of longer ligands results in the formation of only single, uncatenated rings. The catenated complex is shown to persist in solution alongside its constituent metallomacrocycles.