Scheme 12.
Towards the synthesis of molecular knots by using covalent scaffolds. a) A hybrid approach towards a molecular trefoil knot by using CuI and a 1,3,5‐substituted benzene as the template. The interlocked structure of 35 after cyclization was confirmed by X‐ray data, but it was not possible to remove the central benzene template to yield a knot.96 b) A trefoil knot assembled around a benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxylic acid template. The template could be removed after cyclization, but the formation of 36 could not be confirmed experimentally.26