Boron-based rotaxanes by multicomponent self-assembly

The multicomponent reaction of 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene, catechol, 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenylboronic acid and 1,5-dinaphtho-38-crown- 10 or bis-para-phenylene-34-crown-10, respectively, resulted in the formation of rotaxanes, which were characterized by X-ray crystallography.