Nitrate anion templated assembly of a [2]rotaxane for selective nitrate recognition in aqueous solvent mixturesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental details for synthetic procedures, additional characterisation and titration data. See DOI: 10.1039/c3cc45342a

The first nitrate anion templated assembly of an interlocked molecular architecture is demonstrated through the preparation of a [2]rotaxane. Removal of the discrete nitrate anion template from the [2]rotaxane reveals an interlocked host system capable of strong and selective recognition of nitrate, in aqueous-organic solvent mixtures, over a range of more basic mono-charged oxoanions. The first nitrate templated synthesis of an interlocked structure is reported. The resulting rotaxane host selectively recognises nitrate in preference to other mono-oxoanions in aqueous solvent mixtures.