Rotationally Active Ligands: Dialing-Up Multiple Interlocked Co-Conformations for Silver(I) Coordination

A novel [2]rotaxane ligand has been prepared that contains a bidentate N,N'-chelate as part of a rigid, H-shaped axle and a 24-membered crown ether macrocycle containing six ether O-atoms and a trans olefinic group as the wheel. This unique interlocked connectivity allows access to a number of different donor sets, which are shown to be capable of binding Ag-I metal ions.