A linear molecule containing three bipyridine ligands can be wrapped around a single metal-ion template to form an open-knot complex. The loose ends of the knot can be 'tied' together through esterification or olefin-metathesis reactions to form closed knots that do not unravel when the metal template is removed.
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Fenlon, E. Tying up some loose ends. Nature Chem 2, 156–157 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.561
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.561
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