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Redox-Triggered Chirality Switching and Guest-Capture/Release with a Pillar[6]arene-Based Molecular Universal Joint
Chao Xiao1, Wanhua Wu1, Wenting Liang2
1Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry & Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and Healthy Food Evaluation Research Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
Abstract:
A chiral electrochemically responsive molecular universal joint (EMUJ) was synthesized by fusing a macrocyclic pillar[6]arene (P[6]) to a ferrocene-based side ring. A single crystal of an enantiopure EMUJ was successfully obtained, which allowed, for the first time, the definitive correlation between the absolute configuration and the circular dichroism spectrum of a P[6] derivative to be determined. The self-inclusion and self-exclusion conformational change of the EMUJ led to a chiroptical inversion of the P[6] moiety, which could be manipulated by both solvents and changes in temperature. The EMUJ also displayed a unique redox-triggered reversible in/out conformational switching, corresponding to an occupation/voidance switching of the P[6] cavity, respectively. This phenomenon is an unprecedented electrochemical manipulation of the capture and release of guest molecules by supramolecular hosts.
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