Introduction of clutch function into a molecular gear system by silane-silicate interconversion

Introduction of the clutch-declutch mechanism into a new gear system, bis(4-methyl-9-triptycyl)difluorosilane 1, is achieved by the reversible attachment of fluoride ion giving the corresponding fluorosilicate 2. Although the phase isomers of 1 (1(dl) and 1(meso)) cannot be separated because of the equilibrium via a slow gear slippage process (DeltaH(double dagger) = 17.2 +/- 0.2 kcal x mol(-1) and DeltaS(double dagger) = 0.9 +/- 0.9 cal x mol(-1) x K(-1)), 1 works as meshed molecular gears in solution at room temperature. On the other hand, silicate 2 in the solid state has quite an unusual TBP structure having two organic triptycyl groups at the apical positions and three electronegative fluorine atoms at the equatorial positions against the Muetterties rule. Rotation of the two triptycyl groups around Si-C bonds in 2 is facile and independent to each other in solution. Silicate 2 is reverted to the corresponding silane mixture by treating with excess water.