A Macrocycle/Molecular‐Clip Complex that Functions as a Quadruply Controllable Molecular Switch

Herein, we report the synthesis of a molecular clip with TTF side‐walls and its binding behavior towards electron‐deficient guests, namely the formation of macrocycle/molecular‐clip supramolecular complexes in solution. Four different sets of external stimuli—the K + /[2.2.2]cryptand, NH 4 + /Et 3 N and ( p ‐BrPh) 3 NSbCl 6 /Zn pairs, and heating/cooling cycles—control the movement of this molecular switch between its threaded and unthreaded states and provide color changes that are observable by the naked eye. This macrocycle/molecular‐clip complex system can be considered not only as a quadruple‐use molecular switch, but can also be operated by three of these stimuli as a three‐input molecular NOR‐functioning logic gate that may be monitored by UV‐visible spectroscopy.