A light-stimulated molecular switch driven by radical-radical interactions in water

Hao Li, Albert C. Fahrenbach, Ali Coskun, Zhixue Zhu, Gokhan Barin, Yan Li Zhao, Youssry Y. Botros, Jean Pierre Sauvage*, J. Fraser Stoddart

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

114 Scopus citations

Abstract

A redox-controllable bistable [2]rotaxane has been synthesized using templation and click chemistry. With assistance from a sacrificial electron donor, light-triggered switching through numerous cycles can be initiated by radical-pairing interactions between the reduced forms of the cyclophane and the bipyridinium unit in aqueous solution in the absence of air. In the presence of air (O2), the interactions are reset by donor-acceptor charge transfer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6782-6788
Number of pages7
JournalAngewandte Chemie - International Edition
Volume50
Issue number30
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 18 2011

Keywords

  • biomimicry
  • electrochemistry
  • mechanically interlocked molecules
  • molecular devices
  • template synthesis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Catalysis

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