A Push-Button Molecular Switch
Jason M. Spruell, Walter F. Paxton, John-Carl Olsen, Diego Benítez, Ekaterina Tkatchouk, Charlotte L. Stern, Ali Trabolsi, Douglas C. Friedman, William A. Goddard III, J. Fraser Stoddart
Abstract
The preparation, characterization, and switching mechanism of a unique single-station mechanically switchable hetero[2]catenane are reported. The facile synthesis utilizing a "threading-followed-by-clipping" protocol features Cu^(2+)-catalyzed Eglinton coupling as a mild and efficient route to the tetrathiafulvalene-based catenane in high yield. The resulting mechanically interlocked molecule operates as a perfect molecular switch, most readily described as a "push-button" switch, whereby two discrete and fully occupied translational states are toggled electrochemically at incredibly high rates. This mechanical switching was probed using a wide variety of experimental techniques as well as quantum-mechanical investigations. The fundamental distinctions between this single-station [2]catenane and other more traditional bi- and multistation molecular switches are significant.
Group Members
Spruell, J. M., Paxton, W. F., Olsen, J., Benítez, D., Tkatchouk, E., Stern, C. L., Trabolsi, A., Friedman, D. C., III, W. A. G., & Stoddart, J. F. (2009). A Push-Button Molecular Switch. *J. Am. Chem. Soc.*, *131*(32), 11571-11580. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja904104c