A tristable [2]pseudo[2]rotaxane

Abstract

A strategy towards increasing the lifetime of the metastable state of a [2]rotaxane incorporating tetrathiafulvalene, 1,5-dioxynaphthalene and bipyridinium (BIPY 2+) is presented. Incorporation of BIPY 2+ served multiple roles as an electrostatic barrier to relaxation, a supramolecular recognition site for bis-1,5-dioxynaphthalene[38]crown-10 macrocycle, and upon reduction a recognition site for the mechanically bonded cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) ring. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2010.