Quantitative emergence of hetero[4]rotaxanes by template-directed click chemistry.

In one fell swoop, polyrotaxanes comprising up to 64 rings can be synthesized as a result of cucurbit[6]uril-templated 1,3-dipolar azide-alkyne cycloadditions accelerated in the presence of cyclodextrins as a consequence of self-sorting and positive cooperativity, brought about by hydrogen bonding. Mixing six components in one pot affords a hetero[4]rotaxane in one minute in quantitative yield.