Fig. 3. Examples of mechanochemical behaviors observed in a catenane (a) and a rotaxane (b). Elongation of these mechanical bonds (c and d) can lead to their disassembly via the rupture of a covalent bond in the macrocycle (e and f) or the thread (g). Rotaxanes can also dissociate by dethreading (h). Plain and dashed arrows denote events involving the rupture or not of a covalent bond respectively.
