Synthesis of Metalated Pseudorotaxane Polymers with Full Control over the Average Linear Density of Threaded Macrocycles

Here we report the synthesis of metalated main-chain polypseudorotaxanes via ring-opening olefin metathesis copolymerization of macrocycles and metalated [2]catenanes. By varying the feed ratio of the macrocycle and the [2]catenate comonomers, we prepared metalated pseudorotaxane polymers with selected, predictable average linear densities of threaded macrocycles that ranged from 0% to 100%, thus allowing, for the first time, both full and fine control over this key parameter.