Construction of a Molecular Switch and Selector under Electrochemical Control

Abstract

In this work, we designed and synthesized a special axle guest hexyldimethyl(ferrocenylmethyl)ammonium (1+) bromide. The binding interactions of 1+ and its oxidized form 12+ with cucurbit[7]uril (Q[7]) and cyclohexanocucurbit[6]uril (Cy6Q[6]) were investigated by 1H NMR, cyclic voltammogram, and isothermal titration calorimetry techniques. Our data indicate that both hosts Cy6Q[6] and Q[7] can form stable [2]pseudorotaxanes with 1+ in their different redox states. Most importantly, the combination and dissociation of the hosts with the guest as well as the binding location can be controlled by electrochemical means, which develops a special molecular switch and selector.