Mechanochemical synthesis of mechanical bonds inM12L8poly-[n]-catenanes

Using mechanochemistry by grindingTPBand ZnBr2, anamorphouspoly-[n]-catenane of interlockedM12L8nanocages is obtained in good yields (∼80%) and within 15 minutes. The mechanical bond among the icosahedralM12L8cages in the amorphous phase has been demonstrated by single crystal XRD, powder XRD and FT-IR spectroscopy following anamorphous-to-crystallinetransformation by guest uptake of the amorphous phase. High-resolution solid-state13C NMR spectroscopy gives insights into the local structure of theamorphouscatenane focusing onTPBaromatic-aromatic interactions.