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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
09:21
Tuning the Acidity of Pt/ CNTs Catalysts for Hydrodeoxygenation of Diphenyl Ether
Published on: August 17, 2019
Tuning the interlocking in partially saturated copper(I) rotaxane complexes for O2-to-H2O electrocatalytic reduction
Yan Zhang1, Hei Tung Yau1,2, Qi-Fa Chen1,3
1Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. skchem@hku.hk.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|June 16, 2026
Summary
Researchers created rotaxane ligands to stabilize a dynamic copper center for oxygen reduction. Ligand design allows control over electrocatalytic activity and selectivity by tuning the interlocking tightness.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Catalysis
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Stabilizing dynamic metal centers is crucial for catalytic applications.
- Controlling coordination environments in catalysts remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel tridentate rotaxane ligands for stabilizing a dynamic copper(I) center.
- To investigate the influence of interlocking tightness on O2 reduction electrocatalysis.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of tridentate rotaxane ligands with varying macrocycle sizes.
- Electrocatalytic studies of O2 reduction using the stabilized Cu(I) complex.
- Analysis of structure-activity relationships based on interlocking tightness.
Main Results:
- Successfully stabilized a dynamic Cu(I) center with an accessible coordination site using rotaxane ligands.
- Demonstrated tunable electrocatalytic activity and selectivity for O2 reduction by adjusting macrocycle size.
- Showcased control over catalysis through mechanical bond manipulation, a feature not achievable with non-interlocked analogues.
Conclusions:
- Tridentate rotaxane ligands offer a unique platform for controlling the stability and reactivity of metal centers.
- The interlocking tightness of rotaxanes provides a novel strategy for fine-tuning electrocatalytic performance.
- This work opens new avenues for designing advanced catalysts with mechanically controlled functions.
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