The template-directed synthesis of a [2]catenane, in which the interlocking rings are bisparaphenylene-34-crown-10 (BPP34C10) and a cyclobis (paraquat-p-phenylene) tetracationic macrocycle, is reported to occur when 4,4′ -bipyridine and 1,4-bis(bromomethyl)benzene are added to a solution of BPP34C10 in dimethylformamide. This remarkable act of self-assembly, which requires the coming together of five molecular components, is rationalised in terms of the mutual recognition properties displayed by the individual parts of a compound undergoing construction in a modular manner.