Flexible, Long-Chain Alkanediamines as Building Blocks for Catenanes - Steric Hindrance of Circumrotation by Derivatization

New catenanes of the amide‐linked type, such as 11 with one macrocycle containing two (CH2)12 chains are synthesized from long‐chain alkanediamines in yields of up to 21%. Consequently, the preorganization afforded by fixed and angular building units – so far considered essential – proves not to be necessary. The new sulfonamide catenanes exhibit high conformational flexibility. However, the circumrotation of one of the macrocycles can be hindered by substitution with bipyridine units at the sulfonamide nitrogen.