Ring rotation of ferrocene in interlocked molecules in single crystals

This work describes unique molecular motions of ferrocene-containing interlocked molecules observed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The rotational flexibility of ferrocene is achieved using combinations of ferrocene-tethered ammonium and 30-membered ring dibenzo-crown ether. By contrast, ferrocene was locked in the complex with an 18-membered ring dibenzo-crown ether and CH₂Cl₂. When the complex was heated at 358 K, CH₂Cl₂ was removed from the complex, which led to drastic structural changes, including a semieclipsed-to-disordered transition of ferrocene and flipping of the dibenzo-crown ether.

Unique molecular motions, reversible internal rotation of ferrocene and flipping of crown ether are observed in DB30C10 and DB18C6-containing interlocked molecules, respectively.