ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Catenane

Imagine you have two fancy rings, one pink and one blue, that are stuck together like a puzzle. This is called a catenane. It's like a special knot made out of molecules!

Now, normally molecules like to hang out by themselves and not get all tangled up with other molecules. But sometimes, scientists can use special tricks and techniques to make specific molecules stick together and form a catenane.

Catenanes can be really useful in chemistry and even in medicine, because they can sometimes protect certain molecules from breaking down or being destroyed by our bodies. It's like a little bodyguard for important chemicals! And because catenanes are so unique and interesting, they're also studied by scientists who are curious about how the different pieces fit together and how they move around.

So, in summary: a catenane is like a puzzle made out of fancy rings that scientists can make by using special tricks. It can be helpful in chemistry and medicine, and it's just really cool to look at and study!
Related topics others have asked about: