Giving a Use to Triazoles

Significance

Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of azides and primary alkynes are broadly used because of their high yield, functional group compatibility, and mild conditions. However, the resulting triazole rings (like the one in molecule 1) are rarely included in the resulting molecules with a purpose other than being a covalent linker. The authors take advantage of the known interaction between halides and alkylated triazoles (Y. J. Li et al. Chem. Commun. 2007, 2692; triazoliums, like 2) to template the synthesis of rotaxanes (3).