Synthesis and Shuttling Behavior of [2]Rotaxanes with a Pyrrole Moiety

We synthesized [2]­rotaxanes with a pyrrole moiety from a [2]­rotaxane with a 1,3-diynyl moiety. The conversion of the 1,3-diynyl moiety of the axle component to the pyrrole moiety was accomplished by a Cu-mediated cycloaddition of anilines. The cycloaddition reaction was accelerated when the [2]­rotaxane was used as the substrate. The effect of the structure of the pyrrole moiety on the rate of the shuttling was studied.