Formation of a pseudorotaxane by threading a cucurbituril ‘bead’ with a N,N′-bis(3-pyridylmethyl)-1,4-diaminopentane ‘string’ followed by reaction of the pseudorotaxane with AgNO₃ yields a polyrotaxane, the X-ray crystal structure of which reveals the ‘beads’ threaded onto a helical one-dimensional coordination polymer.