High‐Fidelity Multistate Switching with Anion–Anion and Acid–Anion Dimers of Organophosphates in Cyanostar Complexes

The acid–base switching of complexes formed from anti‐electrostatic anion–anion homodimers of organophosphates and cyanostar macrocycles was investigated for the first time. High‐fidelity 2:2 complexes were selected by using suitably sized organo substituents. Reversible and direct switching occurs with triflic acid and hydroxide base. An unexpected acid⋅⋅⋅anion heterodimer was discovered with weaker picric acid, which helped reveal some of the elementary steps. Switching can also proceed in a cooperative (strong anion then weak acid) or stepwise manner (weak acid then strong anion).