A Tubular Belt and a Möbius Strip with Dynamic Joints: Synthesis, Structure, and Host-Guest Chemistry.

Two unprecedented isomeric macrocycles, a tubular belt and a Möbius strip, with thianthrene joints have been constructed through a one-step cyclization reaction. Both structures are fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. A complexation study reveals that the tubular belt is a container for electron deficient guests.