Reversible pH‐Controlled Catenation of a Benzobisimidazole‐Based Tetranuclear Rectangle

The development of methodologies to control on demand and reversibly supramolecular transformations from self-assembled metalla-structures requires the rational design architectures able answer an applied stimulus. While solvent or concentration changes, light exposure addition a chemical have been largely explored provide these transformations, case pH sensitive materials is less described. Herein, we report first example pH-triggered dissociation coordination-driven interlocked molecular link. It incorporates benzobisimidazole-based ligand that can be selectively protonated its bisimidazole moieties. This generates intermolecular electrostatic repulsions reduces drastically stability structure, leading without any sign protonation pyridine moieties involved in coordination bonds. Importantly, process reversible through base.