Stable, reversible conductance transitions and memory effects were observed in solid-state rotaxane-based Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) thin films. Taking advantage of the switching property, we have achieved reproducible nanometer-scale recording dots on rotaxane LB films via voltage application using a scanning tunneling microscope probe. The stable and easily controlled conductance switching makes ...

Permanently interlocked [2]rotaxane ligands can be created by capping a pyridine terminated [2]pseudorotaxane with terpyridine containing stoppers. The robust nature of the resulting [2]rotaxane ligand allows coordination to inert metals such as Ru(II) not possible under standard self-assembly conditions.

The crystal structure of a cyanine dye rotaxane shows that the cyclodextrin is tightly threaded round the polymethine bridge of the dye; encapsulation dramatically increases the kinetic chemical stability of the radicals formed on oxidation and reduction of the dye, making it possible to observe the rotaxane radical dication by ESR and UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy.

The conformational preference of a [2]rotaxane system has been examined by molecular dynamics simulations. The rotaxane wheel consists of two bridged binding components: a cis-dibenzo-18-crown-6 ether and a 1,3-phenyldicarboxamide, and the penetrating axle consists of a central isophthaloyl unit with phenyltrityl capping groups. The influence of solvation on the co-conformation of the [2]rotaxa...

The synthesis of an all-halogen-bonding rotaxane for anion recognition is achieved by using active-metal templation. A flexible bis-iodotriazole-containing macrocycle is exploited for the metal-directed rotaxane synthesis. Endotopic binding of a Cu(I) template facilitates an active-metal CuAAC iodotriazole axle formation reaction that captures the interlocked rotaxane product. Following copper-...

Hydrogen bonding in a [2]rotaxane is shown to stabilise the phenolate anion of a coumaric amide chromophore by almost 3 pKa units; however, the effect on the UV spectral shift in the anion is small and, significantly given the photochemistry of PYP, despite the hydrogen bonding olefin photoisomerisation in the anionic rotaxane remains heavily suppressed.

A rotaxane host system containing a novel halogen bonding (XB) 5-iodo-1,2,3-triazole functionalised pyridinium motif, within its axle component, has been prepared via a ring closing metathesis reaction, using chloride as a template. Proton NMR titration experiments, in competitive 1 : 1 CDCl3-CD3OD solvent media, showed the XB rotaxane selectively bound halides over larger, more basic oxoanions...

A new [2]rotaxane host system containing nitro-isophthalamide macrocycle and polyether functionalised pyridinium axle components is prepared via clipping and stoppering synthetic methodologies using chloride anion templation. After removing the chloride anion template, (1)H NMR titration experiments reveal the unique interlocked host cavity to be highly selective for binding chloride and bromid...

This communication describes the base- and acid-induced five-state translational isomerization of a [3]rotaxane containing two pairs of N-arylamine and N-alkylamine centers as binding sites for two dibenzo[24]crown-8 components. Gradual molecular shuttling of this [3]rotaxane is achieved in response to both the amount and strength of the added acid or base.

Redox-driven mechanical movement, which has been achieved for a liquid-crystalline (LC) bistable [2]rotaxane in the LC phase, is accompanied by obvious electrochromism (electrochemically induced changes in color) of the material. The dumbbell-shaped LC [2]rotaxane with redox-active moieties, which interlocks with an ionic macrocycle, forms ordered redox-active condensed states.