Premium
Accordion‐Like Motion in Electrochemically Switchable Crown Ether/Ammonium Oligorotaxanes
Author(s) -
Schröder Hendrik V.,
Stein Felix,
Wollschläger Jan M.,
Sobottka Sebastian,
Gaedke Marius,
Sarkar Biprajit,
Schalley Christoph A.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201813265
Subject(s) - rotaxane , crown ether , intramolecular force , chemistry , valence (chemistry) , materials science , nanotechnology , stereochemistry , molecule , organic chemistry , ion , supramolecular chemistry
Reversible oxidation reactions in electrochemically switchable oligorotaxanes with tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) decorated 24‐crown‐8 ether wheels generate intramolecular mixed‐valence and radical‐cation interactions between the wheels. This induces shuttling of the wheels and a contraction of inter‐wheel distances. Further oxidation generates repulsive forces between the TTFs and maximizes the inter‐wheel distances instead. These interactions and co‐conformational changes were not observed for structurally similar controls in which acetyl groups along the axle prevent translational motion of the wheels. This operation mode of oligorotaxanes, which is reminiscent of an accordion‐like motion, is promising for functional materials and nanodevices such as piston‐type rotaxane motors.