Redox-Induced Molecular Actuators: The Case of Oxy-Alternate Bridged Cyclotetraveratrylene

We report a practical two-step approach for the synthesis of hybrid-bridge macrocyclic molecules that has been used to synthesize two novel oxy-alternate-bridged macrocyclic molecules, oxy-alternate cyclotetraveratrylene (O-altCTTV) and oxy-alternate cyclohexaveratrylene (O-altCHV). Electrochemistry, absorption spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and DFT calculations demonstrate that O-altCTTV acts as a redox-induced molecular actuator, as its switches from the open conformation in the neutral state to the closed conformation in the cation-radical state.