Stereoselective synthesis of topologically chiral molecular entanglements

Molecules such as knots and catenanes can exhibit topological chirality resulting from their entangled nature. Controlling the handedness of this chirality, especially beyond the simplest systems, is a significant synthetic challenge. In this issue of Chem, Zhang and co-workers have realized the stereoselective synthesis of both a cinquefoil (51) knot and a triply braided, Star of David [2]catenane (621 link). Gaining such control over these higher-order molecular entanglements expands their potential use in sensing, catalysis, and materials applications.