Amide-based molecular shuttles (2001-2006)

Stimuli-responsive molecular shuttles are rotaxanes in which the macrocycle can be translocated from one position on the thread to a second site in response to an external trigger. Here, we present a brief overview of the contributions of the Leigh group to the field from 2001 to 2006. In this short period of time, molecular shuttles have moved from little more than laboratory curiosities to truly functional molecular machines.