The aesthetics of molecular knots have been a strong interest for organic chemists. In this thesis, curcumin{(1E, 6E)-1,7-bis (4-hydroxy-3 -methoxyphenyl)-1, 6-heptadiene-3,5-dione} was used as a substrate towards molecular knots. Its fascinating molecule possesses several attractive features that are useful in designing a synthesis of knots, catenanes, or braided polymer chains.
A commercial way of purifying curcumin from curcuminoids was studied and some curcumin-based ligands were synthesized. The chemistry of ligands with ester and ether linkages to curcumin was investigated. It was shown that the ester linkage to curcumin is vulnerable and those ligands were not suitable for the synthesis of molecular knots. The ether linkage is promising.