The absolute configurations of the two enantiomers of a topologically chiral [2]catenane were determined unambiguously based on HPLC resolution and X-ray crystal analysis. Although structurally dissimilar to simple amino acids, the optical rotations of these separated [2]catenanes share the Clough−Lutz−Jirgensons behavior of amino acids: the optical rotation flips direction in the presence of acid and base, the first example of such behavior for a mechanically interlocked topologically chiral catenane.

Rotaxane‐type (macro)molecules are important materials in various fields of research, with many approaches for their synthesis having been developed over the past 30 years or so. When prepared in solution, the efficiency of interlocking pseudorotaxane complexes into the corresponding rotaxanes relies, to a great extent, on the affinity between the host and guest components; these interactions are not always sufficiently strong to overcome the deleterious effects of high reaction temperatures, competitive solvents, and low concentrations. Upon evaporating the solvent, however, the concentrations of the host and guest species increase significantly and, ultimately, their corresponding pseudorotaxanes can be generated with high efficiency in the solvent‐free residue. Furthermore, in the absence of the solvent, the influence of any disrupting byproducts (generated during the interlocking process) on the complexation equilibrium can also be largely reduced. Therefore, high synthetic efficiency and low consumption of solvents and energy can be expected when synthesizing rotaxanes under solvent‐free conditions. This mini‐review covers the main publications dealing with the solvent‐free syntheses of rotaxanes – those in which the interlocking step involves no solvent (or only a trace of it).

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The effect of sample deposition rate on the spectral pattern of matrix‐isolated ethanol at 10°K in the hydroxyl stretching region was examined. It is shown that the spectral pattern changes greatly with sample deposition rate and the formation of various multimeric species of ethanol molecules can be conveniently controlled by varying the deposition rate at an appropriate M/A ratio instead of varying the M/A ratio.

Rotational isomerism in o‐methylphenol was studied by matrix‐isolation infrared spectroscopy and MNDO calculations. Monomer molecules were isolated both in the argon matrix and in the nitrogen matrix near 10°K. The resolution of one weak band from the main hydroxyl absorption in the stretching and torsional regions evidently indicates the existence of two stable rotational isomers. Results of MNDO semi‐empirical molecular orbital calculations with full geometry optimization indicate that only two stable conformations can exist with the trans (stag) conformation being more stable than the cis (stag) conformation by 3.32 KJ/mole. The present experimental data are interpreted with the aid of theoretical MNDO calculations. The agreement between experiment and theoretical calculations is excellent. However, it was found that the CNDO/2 calculations would give misleading predictions on the relative stabilities of rotational isomers in the present case.