The proliferation of stimuli-responsive supramolecular switches has been driven by their potential to serve as functional components in molecular-scale machinery. However, fulfillment of these ambitions has been slow to come as the bulk of these switches typically demonstrate rather limited functions, and few have been investigated in-depth to better understand the mechanism of their operation. Our lab has previously published several studies on the behavior of copper-templated tetrazine [2]pseudorotaxane switches, but recently has greatly expanded the scope of their function. In the first instance, discovery of a second complimentary recognition site (2,2’-bipyridine) for the switch enables [2]pseudorotaxane directional switching not previously possible, and kinetic characterization of the switching processes also revealed bilability in the switching mechanism. The expansion of this new site also showed “double switching“ behavior, permitting access to a [3]pseudorotaxane morphology. Finally, this mechanistic understanding revealed the possibility of pathway selection in molecular switching, allowing us to choose the mechanism by which switching takes place. The broad functionality of this system suggests that this switching motif could be applied to a variety of possible molecular machine designs.

Exploring and enhancing the functionality of tetrazine molecular switches

249th National Meeting (2015)

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