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Updated: Jul 31, 2025
10:39
Heterogeneous Removal of Water-Soluble Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalyst from Aqueous Media Via Host-Guest Interaction
Published on: August 23, 2018
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ProBox: A Rigid yet Dynamic Cyclophane Capable of Adaptive and Redox-Switchable Host-Guest Binding
Zonghuan Lu1, Wanqian Lv1, Hongyi Liu1
1School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
Organic Letters
|May 8, 2023
Summary
Researchers designed a novel pyrrolodithiin-derived box-like cyclophane (ProBox) with an adaptive, stimuli-responsive cavity. This ProBox molecule can bind guests and release them using electrochemical oxidation, paving the way for molecular machines.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Cyclophanes are macrocyclic organic compounds known for their host-guest chemistry.
- Stimuli-responsive materials offer dynamic properties for advanced applications.
- Adaptive molecular architectures are key for developing molecular machines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize a novel box-like cyclophane with adaptive geometry.
- To investigate the stimuli-responsive and host-guest properties of the designed cyclophane.
- To explore the potential applications of this cyclophane in molecular switches and machines.
Main Methods:
- Design and synthesis of a pyrrolodithiin-derived cyclophane (ProBox).
- Structural characterization of the ProBox cyclophane and its complexes.
- Investigation of the cavity's adaptability to guests of varying sizes and shapes.
- Electrochemical studies to demonstrate redox-switchable guest release.
Main Results:
- Successful construction of the ProBox cyclophane with a dynamic, foldable dithiin subunit.
- Demonstration of the cyclophane's compressible cavity, transforming from hex-nut to rectangular geometry.
- Formation of pseudorotaxane complexes with guests of diverse sizes and shapes.
- Evidence of successful dethreading of guest molecules via electrochemical oxidation.
Conclusions:
- The ProBox cyclophane exhibits adaptive geometry and stimuli-responsive host-guest binding.
- The redox-switchable nature of ProBox enables controlled guest complexation and release.
- This work presents a promising platform for the development of advanced molecular switches and machines.
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