Template-Free Synthesis of a Phenanthroline-Containing [2]Rotaxane: A Reversible pH-Controllable Molecular Switch

Abstract

The synthesis of symmetric and asymmetric rotaxanes consisting of neutral axle and ring components without ionic templates is necessary for applications in molecular sensors and molecular switches. A phenanthroline-containing symmetric [2]rotaxane was newly synthesized by inducing hydrogen bonding and π-interaction using a template-free threading-followed-by-stoppering method. The obtained rotaxane serves as a reversible pH-controllable molecular switch.