Photodriven clamlike motion in a [3]rotaxane with two [2]rotaxane arms bridged by an overcrowded alkene switch

J Org Chem. 2013 Jan 18;78(2):590-6. doi: 10.1021/jo302426c. Epub 2012 Dec 28.

Abstract

A [3]rotaxane with two [2]rotaxane arms bridged by an overcrowded alkene switch has been constructed to perform the clamlike motion in response to light stimulus. We demonstrated that this [3]rotaxane can undergo reversible conformational changes caused by the trans-cis isomerizations of the central double bond with a favorable photostationary state (up to 90% conversion). It has been shown that the clamlike motion causes remarkable UV-vis and fluorescence spectral changes, allowing it to behave as a reversible optical molecular switch.