Synthesis of a pH‐Sensitive Hetero[4]Rotaxane Molecular Machine that Combines [c2]Daisy and [2]Rotaxane Arrangements

The synthesis of a novel pH‐sensitive hetero[4]rotaxane molecular machine through a self‐sorting strategy is reported. The original tetra‐interlocked molecular architecture combines a [c2]daisy chain scaffold linked to two [2]rotaxane units. Actuation of the system through pH variation is possible thanks to the specific interactions of the dibenzo‐24‐crown‐8 (DB24C8) macrocycles for ammonium, anilinium, and triazolium molecular stations. Selective deprotonation of the anilinium moieties triggers shuttling of the unsubstituted DB24C8 along the [2]rotaxane units.     

An Electrochemically and Thermally Switchable Donor–Acceptor [c2]Daisy Chain Rotaxane

Although motor proteins are essential cellular components that carry out biological processes by converting chemical energy into mechanical motion, their functions have been difficult to mimic in artificial synthetic systems. Daisy chains are a class of rotaxanes which have been targeted to serve as artificial molecular machines because their mechanically interlocked architectures enable them to contract and expand linearly, in a manner that is reminiscent of the sarcomeres of muscle tissue. The scope of external stimuli that can be used to control the musclelike motions of daisy chains remains limited, however, because of the narrow range of supramolecular motifs that have been utilized in their templated synthesis. Reported herein is a cyclic daisy chain dimer based on π‐associated donor–acceptor interactions, which can be actuated with either thermal or electrochemical stimuli. Molecular dynamics simulations have shown the daisy chain’s mechanism of extension/contraction in the ground state in atomistic detail.     

Cover Feature: O-Acylative Vinylation of Cyclodextrin-Based [3]Rotaxane Towards Rotaxane Crosslinkers (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 12/2023)

The acylation of a cyclodextrin-based [3]rotaxane was implemented with anhydride reagents following a facile procedure. Methacrylic anhydride facilitated the introduction of a vinyl-group into the rotaxane structure toward achieving a crosslinker. Interestingly, only a few methacrylic units were attached to the cyclodextrin at reaction temperatures of up to 60 °C even with an excess amount of the reagent, probably due to steric hindrance. Therefore, the number of vinyl groups on the [3]rotaxane framework was easily controlled to be approximately two units via a simple random acylation, which worked effectively as a facile synthesis route for the rotaxane crosslinker. The acylation behavior was investigated in detail by NMR and MALDI-TOF-MS analyses. Such a proposed approach will help overcome the trade-off between convenience and utility associated with the mono-modification of cyclodextrins.     

Active Metal Template Synthesis and Characterization of a Nanohoop [c2]Daisy Chain Rotaxane

Molecules and materials that demonstrate large amplitude responses to minor changes in their local environment play an important role in the development of new forms of nanotechnology. Molecular daisy chains are a type of a mechanically interlocked molecule that are particularly sensitive to such changes in which, in the presence of certain stimuli, the molecular linkage enables muscle-like movement between a reduced-length contracted form and an increased-length expanded form. To date, all reported syntheses of molecular daisy chains are accomplished via passive-template methods, resulting in a majority of structures being switchable only through the addition of an exogenous stimuli such as metal ions or changes in pH. Here, we describe a new approach to these structural motifs that exploits a multi-component active-metal template synthesis to mechanically interlock two pi-rich nanohoop macrocycles into a molecular daisy chain that undergoes large conformational changes using thermal energy.     

Daisy Chain Rotaxanes Made from Interlocked DNA Nanostructures

We report the stepwise assembly of supramolecular daisy chain rotaxanes (DCR) made of double‐stranded DNA: Small dsDNA macrocycles bearing an axle assemble into a pseudo‐DCR precursor that was connected to rigid DNA stoppers to form DCR with the macrocycles hybridized to the axles. In presence of release oligodeoxynucleotides (rODNs), the macrocycles are released from their respective hybridization sites on the axles, leading to stable mechanically interlocked DCRs. Besides the expected threaded DCRs, certain amounts of externally hybridized structures were observed, which dissociate into dumbbell structures in presence of rODNs. We show that the genuine DCRs have significantly higher degrees of freedom in their movement along the thread axle than the hybridized DCR precursors. Interlocking of DNA in DCRs might serve as a versatile principle for constructing functional DNA nanostructures where the movement of the subunits is restricted within precisely confined tolerance ranges.     

Synthesis of a Structure‐Definite α‐Cyclodextrin‐Based Macromolecular [3]Rotaxane Using a Size‐Complementary Method

The challenging synthesis of an α‐cyclodextrin (CD)‐based macromolecular rotaxane with definite structure was fulfilled using a size‐complementary method. A new peracetylated (PAc) α‐CD‐based size‐complementary [3]rotaxane was prepared and its thermal dissociation kinetics studied. The de‐slippage mechanism was found to be different from that of the native α‐CD‐based system. PAcα‐CD‐based size‐complementary [3]rotaxanes were employed as initiators for a ring‐opening polymerization of ?‐caprolactone to obtain the macromolecular [3]rotaxanes. Detailed investigation of component dissociation showed the highly movable character of the wheel on the polymer main chain. A general method for controlling the movement of wheels in rotaxane frameworks, even in polymer systems, was established. This will enable the development of new supramolecular architectures and molecular machines.     

A Novel Supramolecular System: Combination of Two Switchable Processes in a [2]Rotaxane

A novel supramolecular system, which is made up of a dibenzo[24]crown‐8 (DB24C8) ring component linked with a calix[4]arene derivative, a dumbbell component, containing a secondary ammonium center (‐NR₂H₂⁺‐) and a 4,4′‐bipyridinium (BIPY²⁺) unit, and stoppered with two 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylphenyl groups on the two termini of the dumbbell component, has been synthesized. The system displays a combination of two processes: the pH‐induced shuttling of a DB24C8 ring and the complexation/decomplexation of K⁺ ions. The switching process of this supramolecular system was investigated in detail by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The results showed that the supramolecular system can only switch smoothly in CD₃CN. The two separated switchable processes can run together smoothly in this supramolecular system.     

Hydroxy Groups Enhance [2]Rotaxane Anion Binding Selectivity

We report the synthesis of two [2]rotaxanes containing an interlocked three dimensional binding cavity formed from a pyridinium bis(amide) axle component containing two phenol donors, and an isophthalamide based macrocycle. In the competitive solvent mixture 1 : 1 CDCl₃ : CD₃OD, one of the receptors exhibits a much higher selectivity preference for chloride than an analogous rotaxane without the hydroxy groups. X-ray crystal structures reveal the chloride anion guest encapsulated within the interlocked binding cavity, though not all of the hydrogen bond donors are utilised. Computational semi-empirical simulations indicate that secondary intermolecular interactions occur between the axle hydroxy hydrogen bond donors and the [2]rotaxane macrocycle components, contributing to a more preorganised binding pocket, which may be responsible for the observed enhanced selectivity.     

A pH‐Dependent,Mechanically Interlocked Switch: Organometallic [2]Rotaxane vs. Organic [3]Rotaxane

We present the first [2]rotaxane featuring a functional organometallic host. In contrast to the known organic scaffolds, this assembly shows a high post‐synthetic modifiability. The reactivity of the Ag₈ pillarplex host is fully retained, as is exemplified by the first transmetalation in a rotaxane framework to provide the respective Au₈ analogue. Additionally, a transformation under acidic conditions to give a purely organic [3]rotaxane is demonstrated which is reversible upon addition of a suitable base, rendering the assembly a pH‐dependent switch. Hereby, it is shown that the mechanically interlocked nature of the system enhances the kinetic stability of the NHC host complex by a factor of >1000 and corresponds to the first observation of a stabilizing “rotaxand effect”.     

A Doubly Alkynylpyrene‐Threaded [4]Rotaxane That Exhibits Strong Circularly Polarized Luminescence from the Spatially Restricted Excimer

The Sonogashira coupling of γ‐CD‐encapsulated alkynylpyrenes with terphenyl‐type stopper molecules gave a doubly alkynylpyrene‐threaded [4]rotaxane. The rotaxane showed only excimer emission, with a high fluorescence quantum yield of Φ_f=0.37, arising from the spatially restricted excimer within the cavity of the γ‐CD. The excimer emission suffered little from self‐quenching up to a concentration of 1.5×10^?5 M and was circularly polarized with a high g_lum value of ?1.5×10^?2. The strong circularly polarized luminescence may result from the two stacked pyrenes existing in the rotaxane in an asymmetrically twisted manner.     

Face-selective [2]- and [3]rotaxanes: kinetic control of the threading direction of cyclodextrins

New [2]- and [3]pseudorotaxanes containing alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CDs) molecules as rotors and alkyl pyridinium derivatives as axles were prepared by a slipping process. The inclusion behavior of these rotaxanes was investigated by using one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The methyl group at the 2-position of the pyridinium moiety at the end of each axle molecule was found to control the rates of threading of the alpha-CD onto the axle molecules. alpha-CD can approach axle molecules from a particular direction to form inclusion complexes. Axle molecules that contain a 2-methylpyridinium moiety at one end and a bulky stopper at the other end can regulate the direction of approach to give a [2]pseudorotaxane such as 2 b-alpha-CD. A [3]pseudorotaxane in which two alpha-CD molecules are arranged facing in the same direction at two stations of the tetracationic axle molecule was also obtained. These face-selective behaviors are dominated by kinetic processes rather than thermodynamic processes.     

Dual-Readout of the Mechanical Response of a Bis-acridinium [2]Rotaxane

A [2]rotaxane built around a multi-responsive bis-acridinium macrocycle has been synthesized. Structural investigation has confirmed the interlocked nature of the molecule, and MD simulations illuminated its conformational dynamics with atomic resolution. Both halochromic and redox-switching properties were explored to shed light on the mechanical response and electronic changes that occur in the bis-acridinium [2]rotaxane. The topology of the rotaxane led to different mechanical behaviors upon addition of hydroxide ions or reduction that were easily detected by UV/Vis spectroscopy and electrochemistry.     

Unidirectional threading synthesis of isomer-free [2]rotaxanes

The threading of an alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CyD) by an unsymmetrical dumbbell generally results in two isomeric [2]rotaxanes differing in the orientation of the alpha-CyD. In this work, two methods have been developed for the unidirectionally threading an alpha-CyD to obtain isomer-free [2]rotaxanes. These methods use the Suzuki coupling of a boronic acid derivative and a halide in aqueous alkaline solution. The conformations of the two unidirectional [2]rotaxanes-R3 and R4 were determined by 2D 1H ROESY NMR spectra. The optical spectral studies revealed that each of the two [2]rotaxanes can proceed with E/Z photoisomerization and shuttling motions of the alpha-CyD ring on the thread under alternating irradiation at 330 and 275 nm, accompanied by fluorescence intensity changes at 530 nm. The induced circular dichroism (ICD) spectra of another two analogous [2]rotaxanes R1 and R2 were also studied. Distinctive ICD signal changes resulting from the photoisomerization with respect to the movements of alpha-CyD were detected. This demonstrates that, besides the fluorescence, ICD signal is another way to identify the shuttling motions of alpha-CyD in these [2]rotaxanes.     

Efficient Intramolecular Energy Transfer between Two Fluorophores in a Bis‐Branched [3]Rotaxane

A bis‐branched [3]rotaxane, with two [2]rotaxane arms separated by an oligo(para‐phenylenevinylene) (OPV) fluorophore, was designed and investigated. Each [2]rotaxane arm employed a difluoroboradiaza‐s‐indacene (BODIPY) dye‐functionalized dibenzo[24]crown‐8 macrocycle interlocked onto a dibenzylammonium in the rod part. The chemical structure of the [3]rotaxane was confirmed and characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and high‐resolution ESI mass spectrometry. The photophysical properties of [3]rotaxane and its reference systems were investigated through UV/Vis absorption, fluorescence, and time‐resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. An efficient energy‐transfer process in [3]rotaxane occurred from the OPV donor to the BODIPY acceptor because of the large overlap between the absorption spectrum of the BODIPY moiety and the emission spectrum of the OPV fluorophore; this shows the important potential of this system for designing functional molecular systems.