Molecular Borromean Rings and Solomon’s Knot

Abstract

A “molecular Borromean rings” was obtained by 2:2 condensation of difunctionalized bipyridine and diformylpyridine in the presence of M(OAc)₂ (M = Zn, Cu) in high yield. A similar template-directed reaction in the presence of equimolar amounts of Zn and Cu ions forms a “molecular Solomon’s knot”.