Hierarchical self-assembly of discrete bis-[2]pseudorotaxane metallacycle with bis-pillar[5]arene via host-guest interactions and their redox-responsive behaviors

RSC Adv. 2021 Jan 4;11(2):1187-1193. doi: 10.1039/d0ra09920a. eCollection 2020 Dec 24.

Abstract

A discrete rhomboidal metallacycle R functionalized with bis-[2]pseudorotaxane of [Cu(phenanthroline)2]+ derivatives was successfully synthesized via coordination-driven self-assembly. Furthermore, the host-guest complexation of such a bis-[2]pseudorotaxane metallacycle with a bis-pillar[5]arene (bisP5) allowed for the formation of a new family of cross-linked supramolecular polymers R⊃(bisP5)2, which displayed interesting redox-responsive properties. By taking advantage of the substantial structural differences between the coordination geometries of [Cu(phenanthroline)2]+ and [Cu(phenanthroline)2]2+, the weight-average diffusion coefficients D of the supramolecular polymer were adjusted through changing the redox state of the Cu(i)/Cu(ii) complexes.