Synthesis of a novel triptycene-based molecular tweezer and its complexation with paraquat derivatives

[reaction: see text] A novel triptycene-based molecular tweezer has been synthesized, and its complexation with paraquat derivatives in solution and in the solid state has been studied. Due to its electron-rich cavity, the molecular tweezer could form stable complexes with paraquat derivatives with different functional groups. Moreover, it was also found that formation of the complexes was caused by a charge transfer interaction and the complexes dissociated upon two one-electron reduction of the bipyridinium ring.