Abstract

Mono‐ and bis‐salen functionalised [2]rotaxanes have been synthesised from the esterification of [2]rotaxanes containing phenol‐terminated threads (salen = N,N′‐bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine). The [2]rotaxanes have general formula [RH][Cr7NiF8(O2CtBu)16], where [RH]+ is a thread with a central secondary ammonium site that templates a [Cr7NiF8(O2CtBu)16]− ring. The threads are terminated at one or both ends by carboxylic acid functionalised salen groups. The {M(salen)} groups can be free‐base [M = (H+)2] or metallated [M = Cu2+, Ni2+, (VO)2+]. The [2]rotaxanes have been characterised by single crystal XRD and solid‐ and solution‐state EPR spectroscopy. Where two paramagnetic M ions are involved [M = Cu2+ and/or (VO)2+] the [2]rotaxanes contain three electron spin S = ½ centres, since the {Cr7Ni} ring has an S = ½ ground state which is well isolated at low temperatures. These three‐spin [2]rotaxanes have been characterised in solution by pulsed dipolar EPR spectroscopies (DEER, also known as PELDOR, and RIDME). The M···M and M···{Cr7Ni} interactions measured are consistent with dipolar interactions and also with the distances from single crystal XRD.