The tandem Claisen rearrangement in the construction of building blocks for supramolecular chemistry

The tandem Claisen rearrangement is a simple but highly efficient reaction to synthesize useful building blocks for supramolecular chemistry. It provides in one step two new C-C bonds in very high yield. The scope and limits of this reaction will be discussed in this review and it will be shown, how macrocyclic compounds as well as rotaxanes or helicates can be formed by use of butenylidene bridged aromatic compounds obtained after the rearrangement reaction. Special aspects will cover the search for new receptors and sensors or for energy transfer properties. The contents of this tutorial review are within the field of preparative organic synthesis but in addition cover aspects of inorganic and supramolecular chemistry.