Rotaxanes are currently seen as one of the most promising components in artificial molecular machines. In the last decades, a lot of effort has been dedicated to the developing of such interlocked architectures, which can be subjected to submolecular motion. Rotaxanes field has evolved to stimuli-responsive molecular shuttle, capable of responding to several different external stimuli. The interest on molecular shuttles arises from the possibility of achieving controlled submolecular motion of their components with respect to one another. Here, we present an overview on benzylic amide rotaxanes, smart molecules able to function as electrochemically switchable molecular shuttles, both in solution and on surface. Transposing working systems from solution phase onto surfaces and into the solid state is fundamental for their applicability in different technological fields including electromechanical switches and molecular electronic devices. The synthesis of benzylic amide rotaxanes is based on template effects mediated by hydrogen bonds, which play a key role also in the shuttling process. Given the electrostatic nature of hydrogen bonds, their interactions can be modulated through electrons injection. Electrochemistry results a reagent-free powerful tool to operate stimulus and characterize the molecular level motion across different environments, necessary from the point of view of future integration with current technologies.

Benzylic Amide Rotaxanes: A Versatile Architecture

FIORAVANTI, GIULIA
2012-01-01

Abstract

Rotaxanes are currently seen as one of the most promising components in artificial molecular machines. In the last decades, a lot of effort has been dedicated to the developing of such interlocked architectures, which can be subjected to submolecular motion. Rotaxanes field has evolved to stimuli-responsive molecular shuttle, capable of responding to several different external stimuli. The interest on molecular shuttles arises from the possibility of achieving controlled submolecular motion of their components with respect to one another. Here, we present an overview on benzylic amide rotaxanes, smart molecules able to function as electrochemically switchable molecular shuttles, both in solution and on surface. Transposing working systems from solution phase onto surfaces and into the solid state is fundamental for their applicability in different technological fields including electromechanical switches and molecular electronic devices. The synthesis of benzylic amide rotaxanes is based on template effects mediated by hydrogen bonds, which play a key role also in the shuttling process. Given the electrostatic nature of hydrogen bonds, their interactions can be modulated through electrons injection. Electrochemistry results a reagent-free powerful tool to operate stimulus and characterize the molecular level motion across different environments, necessary from the point of view of future integration with current technologies.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11697/10839
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