Controllable photomechanical bending of metal-organic rotaxane crystals facilitated by regioselective confined-space photodimerization

Jun-shan Geng, Lei Mei (), Yuan-yuan Liang, Li-yong Yuan, Ji-pan Yu, Kong-qiu Hu, Li-hua Yuan, Wen Feng (), Zhi-fang Chai and Wei-qun Shi ()
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Jun-shan Geng: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Lei Mei: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yuan-yuan Liang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Li-yong Yuan: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ji-pan Yu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Kong-qiu Hu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Li-hua Yuan: Sichuan University
Wen Feng: Sichuan University
Zhi-fang Chai: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wei-qun Shi: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Molecular machines based on mechanically-interlocked molecules (MIMs) such as (pseudo) rotaxanes or catenates are known for their molecular-level dynamics, but promoting macro-mechanical response of these molecular machines or related materials is still challenging. Herein, by employing macrocyclic cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8])-based pseudorotaxane with a pair of styrene-derived photoactive guest molecules as linking structs of uranyl node, we describe a metal-organic rotaxane compound, U-CB[8]-MPyVB, that is capable of delivering controllable macroscopic mechanical responses. Under light irradiation, the ladder-shape structural unit of metal-organic rotaxane chain in U-CB[8]-MPyVB undergoes a regioselective solid-state [2 + 2] photodimerization, and facilitates a photo-triggered single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformation, which even induces macroscopic photomechanical bending of individual rod-like bulk crystals. The fabrication of rotaxane-based crystalline materials with both photoresponsive microscopic and macroscopic dynamic behaviors in solid state can be promising photoactuator devices, and will have implications in emerging fields such as optomechanical microdevices and smart microrobotics.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29738-y

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