Directed one-pot syntheses of crown ether wheel-containing main chain-type polyrotaxanes with controlled rotaxanation ratios.

The directed synthesis of main chain-type polyrotaxanes possessing crown ether wheels was successfully achieved through two methods, A and B. Method A involved the direct wheel threading of poly(sec-ammonium salt) followed by end-capping with a bulky group, while method B utilized polyaddition of a pseudo[2]rotaxane monomer to facilitate the control of the structure, i.e. the rotaxanation ratio.