An Organic Molecular Nanobarrel that Hosts and Solubilizes C60

Organic cages have gained increasing attention in recent years as molecular hosts and porous materials. Among these, barrel-shaped cages or molecular nanobarrels are promising systems to encapsulate large hosts as they possess windows of the same size as their internal cavity. However, these systems have received little attention and remain practically unexplored despite their potential. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a new trigonal prismatic organic nanobarrel with two large triangular windows with a diameter of 12.7 Å optimal for the encapsulation of C₆₀ . Remarkably, this organic nanobarrel shows a high affinity for C₆₀ in solvents in which C₆₀ is virtually insoluble, providing stable solutions of C₆₀ .

Mechanically Interlocked Nitrogenated Nanographenes

Herein, we report the synthesis of mechanically interlocked nitrogenated nanographenes. These systems have been obtained by clipping different tetralactam macrocycles around a 1.9 nm dumbbell-shaped nitrogenated nanographene. Thermal, optoelectronic, and electrochemical characterization of the different mechanically interlocked nanographenes evidence enhanced thermal and photochemical stability, and also absorption and emission properties that vary with the structure of the macrocycle.

Synthesis of a Mechanically Planar Chiral Rotaxane Ligand for Enantioselective Catalysis

Rotaxanes are interlocked molecules in which a molecular ring is trapped on a dumbbell-shaped axle because of its inability to escape over the bulky end groups, resulting in a so-called mechanical bond. Interlocked molecules have mainly been studied as components of molecular machines, but the crowded, flexible environment created by threading one molecule through another has also been explored in catalysis and sensing. However, so far, the applications of one of the most intriguing properties of interlocked molecules, their ability to display stereogenic units that do not rely on the stereochemistry of their covalent subunits, termed "mechanical chirality," have yet to be properly explored, and prototypical demonstration of the applications of mechanically chiral rotaxanes remain scarce. Here, we describe a mechanically planar chiral rotaxane-based Au complex that mediates a cyclopropanation reaction with stereoselectivities that are comparable with the best conventional covalent catalyst reported for this reaction.

Ferrocene-containing [1]-, [2]-, [3]- and [4]rotaxanes synthesized from a common precursor

[1]-, [2]-, [3]- and [4]rotaxanes were synthesized by reaction of azide compounds with dialkylammonium with ferrocenyl and alkynyl terminal groups.

Formation of a hetero[3]rotaxane by a dynamic component-swapping strategy

Acid-catalysed scrambling of the mechanically interlocked components between two different homo[3]rotaxanes, constituted of dumbbells containing two secondary dialkylammonium ion recognition sites encircled by two [24]crown-8 rings, each containing a couple of imine bonds, affords a statistical mixture of a hetero[3]rotaxane along with the two homo[3]rotaxanes, indicating that neither selectivity nor cooperativity is operating during the assembly process.

Reversible mechanical switching of magnetic interactions in a molecular shuttle

An acid–base switchable molecular shuttle based on a [2]rotaxane, incorporating stable radical units in both the ring and dumbbell components, is reported. The [2]rotaxane comprises a dibenzo[24]crown-8 ring (DB24C8) interlocked with a dumbbell component that possesses a dialkylammonium (NH₂⁺) and a 4,4′-bipyridinium (BPY²⁺) recognition site. Deprotonation of the rotaxane NH₂⁺ centers effects a quantitative displacement of the DB24C8 macroring to the BPY²⁺ recognition site, a process that can be reversed by acid treatment. Interaction between stable 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) radicals connected to the ring and dumbbell components could be switched between noncoupled (three-line electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum) and coupled (five-line EPR spectrum) upon displacement of the spin-labelled DB24C8 macroring. The complete base- and acid-induced switching cycle of the EPR pattern was repeated six times without an appreciable loss of signal, highlighting the reversibility of the process. Hence, this molecular machine is capable of switching on/off magnetic interactions by chemically driven reversible mechanical effects. A system of this kind represents an initial step towards a new generation of nanoscale magnetic switches that may be of interest for a variety of applications.

Photodriven [2]rotaxane–[2]catenane interconversion

The reversible photocyclomerization of terminal anthracene units enables the interconversion between [2]rotaxane and [2]catenane molecular topologies.

Two switchable star-shaped [1](n)rotaxanes with different multibranched cores

Two novel star-shaped [1](n)rotaxanes with three and four identical [1]rotaxane arms but different multibranched cores were designed, synthesized, and well-characterized. In the two systems, external base-acid stimuli result in the uniform relative mechanical movement of the macrocyclic rings and threads of their [1]rotaxane arms. The energy-minimized structures of the two rotaxanes in different states were obtained using molecular dynamics simulations in acetone solution, suggesting the construction of more sophisticated molecular machines mimicking the extension and contraction motions.

A musclelike [2](2)rotaxane: synthesis, performance, and molecular dynamics simulations

A novel bistable symmetric [2](2)rotaxane was prepared by a threading-followed-by-stoppering strategy and characterized with (1)H, (13)C, and 2D ROESY NMR spectroscopy and HR-ESI spectrometry. The symmetric [2](2)rotaxane system consists of an anthracene-based bis(crown ether) as macrocycles, and each of the two dibenzo[24]crown-8 (DB24C8) rings is threaded by the pendant substituents of a symmetrically substituted central rotatable ferrocene subunit that possesses two distinguishable recognition sites for the DB24C8 ring: namely, a dibenzylammonium site and an N-methyltriazolium site. The uniform shuttling motion of the thread relative to the two DB24C8 rings in [2](2)rotaxane can be driven by external acid-base stimuli, which was evidenced by (1)H and 2D ROESY NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations of the [2](2)rotaxane were carried out both in protonated (stretched) and in neutral (contracted) forms. The calculated percentage change in molecular length of the [2](2)rotaxane between the two end-capping bis(methoxyl)phenyl groups is about 48% in the two different states (in acetone), which is much larger than the percentage change (∼27%) in human muscle. Moreover, in the two states, the C*-Cp-Cp-C* dihedral angles are computed as -177° in the stretched state and -112° in the contracted state, indicating a correlation between the translational and rotational motions of the [2](2)rotaxane.

Fullerene-stoppered bistable rotaxanes

This chapter aims at giving an overview of the different types of fullerene-stoppered bistable rotaxanes, their switching mechanism and their potential applications with a special focus on fullerene-driven molecular shuttles.

Fluorescence modulation in tribranched switchable [4]rotaxanes

Two novel tribranched [4]rotaxanes with a 1,3,5-triphenylene core and three rotaxane arms have been designed, synthesized, and characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopies and HR-ESI mass spectrometry. [4]Rotaxanes 1 and 2 each possess the same three-armed skeleton. Each arm incorporates two distinguishable binding sites for a dibenzo[24]crown-8 ring, namely a dibenzylammonium site and an N-methyltriazolium site, and is terminated by a 4-morpholino-naphthalimide fluorophore as a stopper. [4]Rotaxane 1 has three di-ferrocene-functionalized dibenzo[24]crown-8 rings whereas 2 has three simple dibenzo[24]crown-8 rings interlocked with the thread component. Uniform shuttling motions of the three macrocycles in both 1 and 2 can be driven by external acid-base stimuli, which were confirmed by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. However, [4]rotaxanes 1 and 2 show distinct modes of fluorescence modulation in response to external acid-base stimuli. [4]Rotaxane 1 exhibits a remarkable fluorescence decrease in response to the addition of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) as a base, which can displace the ferrocene-functionalized macrocycle from the dibenzylammonium station to the N-methyltriazolium station. In contrast, the fluorescence intensity of [4]rotaxane 2 showed an enhancement with the addition of DBU. Time-resolved fluorescence measurements have been performed. The different photoinduced electron-transfer processes responsible for the fluorescence changes in the two molecular systems are discussed. Topological structures of this kind have significant potential for the design and construction of large and complex assemblies with controllable functions.

Getting tubed: mechanical bond in endohedral derivatives of carbon nanotubes?

We present a brief overview of some of the most prominent examples of encapsulation of molecules inside carbon nanotubes. We then relate them to mechanically interlocked molecules, and in particular rotaxanes, by examining the most prominent features of the mechanical bond (topology, dynamic properties, and stability) and comparing them to those of endohedral derivatives of nanotubes. Our analysis shows that there is a surprisingly clear link between these two apparently disparate species.