Work

Dynamics of the Interlocked Rings in a Water‐Soluble Radial [7]Catenane

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Large‐amplitude co‐conformational motions are a unique characteristic of catenanes and related mechanical interlocked molecules that underlie their applications as molecular switches and machines. Due to the challenging synthesis, precise incorporation of multiple macrocycles of different properties into a single [n]catenane and studies on the dynamics of the interlocked components are, however, scarce. In this work, a water‐soluble radial [7]catenane was obtained in one step in high yield (95% formation, 80% isolated yield). Dynamics of the four β‐cyclodextrins (β‐CD) and two cucurbit[6]urils (CB[6]) interlocked on a central macrocycle were also studied by variable temperature NMR. While the motions of the β‐CDs can be modulated by external stimuli, those of the CB[6]s are found to be unaffected.

Source: ChemSystemsChem

DOI: 10.1002/syst.202500075

Authors: Antony Wing Hung Ng, Yu Hin Leung, Ho Yu Au‐Yeung

Institutions: University of Hong Kong, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry

Language: English

Topic: Supramolecular Chemistry and Complexes

Subfield: Organic Chemistry

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,030

Funders: University of Hong Kong, Intel Collaborative Research Institute on Mobile Networking and Computing