A Switchable Ferrocene-Based [1]Rotaxane with an Electrochemical Signal Output

Abstract

A [1]rotaxane, in which a linear rod is attached to one cyclopentadienyl (Cp) ring of a ferrocene unit and threaded into a dibenzo-24-crown-8 connected to the other Cp ring, was prepared. The mechanical motion of the rod-like part relative to the macrocycle has been demonstrated using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) showed that the system can be chemically switched between electrochemically reversible and irreversible states, depending on the inclusion and exclusion of the ammonium/amine group from the macrocycle