Cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene)-Based [2]Catenanes Prepared by Kinetically Controlled Reactions Involving Alkynes

Charged donor−acceptor [2]catenanes, in which the π-accepting cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) acts as a tetracationic template for the threading-followed-by-clipping of acyclic oligoethers, incorporating centrally a π-donating 1,5-dioxynaphthalene ring system and terminated either by acetylene units or by acetylene and azide functions, are the products of copper-mediated Eglinton coupling and Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, respectively.