A logic gate based on a bistable [c2] daisy chain rotaxane decorated with lateral triarylamine units is described, giving rise to an INHIBIT logic function using proton concentration and light as inputs, and producing dual color change and supramolecular self-assembly as outputs.

Pressure not only influences the yield in the synthesis of a two-station [2]rotaxane, it also determines the distribution of the co-conformational isomers. At high pressure cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) is preferentially assembled around a monopyrrolotetrathiafulvalene unit, while at low pressure it is preferentially assembled around a hydroquinone unit.

A rotaxane incorporating three different stations and fluorescent states (output) was prepared. The movement of the macrocycle can be easily detected by fluorescence change as an output signal and the macrocycle could be easily controlled to locate on three different stations of the thread by the tuning of acid/base (input).

Irreversible redox-induced relaxation processes occurring in a synthetic thread for rotaxane-based molecular devices are investigated; the results show that such a system in solution allows chemists to efficiently realize a nanosecond timescale/electrochemically-driven "conformational shaping" through simple control of non-covalent interactions.

A novel triply interlocked [2]rotaxane based on a triptycene-derived tris(crown ether) host and a guest embedded with three dibenzylammonium and three N-methyltriazolium recognition sites was designed and synthesized, which showed pulley-like shuttling motion controlled by acid and base.

Use of molecular electron spins as qubits for quantum computing will depend on the ability to produce molecules with weak but measurable interactions between the qubits. Here we demonstrate use of pulsed EPR spectroscopy to measure the interaction between two inequivalent spins in a hybrid rotaxane molecule.

Two switchable, palindromically constituted bistable [3]rotaxanes have been designed and synthesized with a pair of mechanically mobile rings encircling a single dumbbell. These designs are reminiscent of a "molecular muscle" for the purposes of amplifying and harnessing molecular mechanical motions. The location of the two cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) (CBPQT(4+)) rings can be controlled to b...

A [2]rotaxane constructed from a per-ethylated pillar[6]arene as a wheel and a pyridinium derivative as an axle was prepared. The wheel segment of the per-ethylated pillar[6]arene moved from one station to another along the axle as a result of thermal stimuli.

A synthetic approach combining recent concepts for the preparation of multifunctional nanomolecules (click chemistry on multifunctional scaffolds) with supramolecular chemistry (self-assembly to prepare rotaxanes) gave easy access to a large variety of sophisticated [2]rotaxane heteroglycoclusters. Specifically, compounds combining galactose and fucose have been prepared to target the two bacte...

The ability of an E-configured azobenzene guest to undergo photoisomerisation is controlled by the presence of a complementary host. Addition of base/acid allowed for a weakening/strengthening of the interactions in the divalent pseudo[2]rotaxane complex and hence could switch on/off photochromic activity.