Journal
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
Volume 17, Issue 1, Pages 213-222Publisher
WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
DOI: 10.1002/chem.201002152
Keywords
molecular switches; radical dimerization; rotacatenanes; template-directed synthesis; tetrathiafulvalenes
Categories
Funding
- US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences [DE-SC0000989, DE-SC0001059]
- National Science Foundation (NSF) [CHE-1012378]
- Link Foundation
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Rotacatenanes are exotic molecular compounds that can be visualized as a unique combination of a [2]catenane and a [2]rotaxane, thereby combining both the circumrotation of the ring component (rotary motion) and the shuttling of the dumbbell component (translational motion) in one structure. Herein, we describe a strategy for the synthesis of a new switchable [3]rotacatenane and the investigation of its switching properties, which rely on the formation of tetrathiafulvalene (TIT) radical pi-dimer interactions-namely, the mixed-valence state (TTF2)(+.) and the radical-cation dimer state (TTF+.)(2)-under ambient conditions. A template-directed approach, based on donor acceptor interactions, has been developed, resulting in an improved yield of the key precursor [2]catenane, prior to rotacatenation. The nature of the binding between the [2]catenane and selected pi-electron-rich templates has been elucidated by using X-ray crystallography and UV/Vis spectroscopy as well as isothermal titration microcalorimetry. The multistate switching mechanism of the [3]rotacatenane has been demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry and EPR spectroscopy. Most notably, the radicalcation dimer state (TTF+.)(2) has been shown to enter into an equilibrium by forming the co-conformation in which the two 1,5-dioxynaphthalene (DNP) units co-occupy the cavity of tetracationic cyclophane, thus enforcing the separation of TIFF radical-cation dimer (TTF+.)(2). The population ratio of this equilibrium state was found to be 1:1. We believe that this research demonstrates the power of constructing complex molecular machines using template-directed protocols, enabling us to make the transition from simple molecular switches to their multistate variants for enhancing information storage in molecular electronic devices.
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