compared to that in solution. On the other hand, the differences provide many
opportunities for construction of novel functional materials, such as smart surfaces
with switchable properties, controlled drug release systems, and self-healing materials. Herein, we foresee a challenging but bright prospect for rotaxanes. The synergy
between new synthetic methodology, functionalization, and materials applications
would bring about further developments and extensive applications of rotaxanes in
the coming years. As the ultimate purpose, advanced functional materials and
devices based on rotaxanes would bring a novel industrial generation toward the
smart period.
References
1. (a) Balzani V, Credi A, Raymo FM, Stoddart JF (2000) Artificial molecular machines. Angew
Chem Int Ed 39:3348–3391; (b) Sauvage JP, Amendola V (2001) Molecular machines and
motors. Springer Science and Business Media; (c) Kinbara K, Aida T (2005) Toward intelligent
molecular machines: directed motions of biological and artificial molecules and assemblies.
Chem Rev 105:1377–1400; (d) Kay ER, Leigh DA, Zerbetoo F (2007) Synthetic molecular
motors and mechanical machines. Angew Chem Int Ed 46:72–191; (e) Balzani V, Venturi M,
Credi A (2008) Molecular devices and machines. Concepts and perspectives for the nanoworld,
2nd edn, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim; (f) Balzani V, Credi A, Venturi M (2009) Light powered
molecular machines. Chem Soc Rev 38:1542–1550; (g) Coskun A, Banaszak M, Astumian RD,
Stoddart JF, Grzybowski BA (2012) Great expectations: can artificial molecular machines
deliver on their promise? Chem Soc Rev 41:19–30; (h) Abendroth JM, Bushuyev OS, Weiss
PS, Barrett CJ (2015) Controlling motion at the nanoscale: rise of the molecular machines. ACS
Nano 9:7746–7768; (i) Erbas-Cakmak S, Leigh DA, McTernan CT, Nussbaumer AL (2015)
Artificial molecular machines. Chem Rev 115:10081–10206
2. (a) Anelli PL, Spencer N, Stoddart JF (1991) A molecular shuttle. J Am Chem Soc
113:5131–5133; (b) Harada A, Li J, Kamachi M (1992) Synthesis of a tubular polymer from
threaded cyclodextrins. Nature 356:325–327; (c) Badjić JD, Balzani V, Credi A, Silvi S,
Stoddart JF (2004) A molecular elevator. Science 303:1845–1849; (d) Tian H, Wang QC
(2006) Recent progress on switchable rotaxanes. Chem Soc Rev 35:361–374; (e) Serreli V,
Lee CF, Kay ER, Leigh DA (2007) A molecular information ratchet. Nature 445:523–527;
(f) Lee CF, Leigh DA, Pritchard RG, Schultz D, Teat SJ, Timco GA, Winpenny REP (2009)
Hybrid organic-inorganic rotaxanes and molecular shuttles. Nature 458:314–318; (g) Ma X,
Tian H (2010) Bright functional rotaxanes. Chem Soc Rev 39:70–80; (h) Xue M, Yang Y,
Chi X, Yan X, Huang F (2015) Development of pseudorotaxanes and rotaxanes: from synthesis
to stimuli-responsive motions to applications. Chem Rev 115:7398–7501; (i) Gao C, Luan ZL,
Zhang Q, Yang S, Rao SJ, Qu DH, Tian H (2017) Triggering a [2]rotaxane molecular shuttle by
a photochemical bond-cleavage strategy. Org Lett 19:1618–1621; (j) Yang S, Luan ZL, Gao C,
Yu JJ, Qu DH (2018) Triggering a [2] rotaxane molecular shuttle through hydrogen sulfide. Sci
China Chem 61:1674–7291
3. (a) Bordoli RJ, Goldup SM (2014) An efficient approach to mechanically planar chiral
rotaxanes. J Am Chem Soc 136:4817–4820; (b) Stoddart JF (2014) Putting mechanically
interlocked molecules (MIMs) to work in tomorrow’s world. Angew Chem Int Ed
53:11102–11104; (c) van Dongen SFM, Cantekin S, Elemans JAAW, Rowan AE, Nolte RJM
(2014) Functional interlocked systems. Chem Soc Rev 43:99–122; (d) Qu DH, Wang QC,
Zhang QW, Ma X, Tian H (2015) Photoresponsive host-guest functional systems. Chem Rev
115:7543–7588; (e) Wang W, Chen LJ, Wang XQ, Sun B, Li X, Zhang Y, Shi J, Yu Y, Zhang L,
Liu M, Yang HB (2015) Organometallic rotaxane dendrimers with fourth-generation mechanically interlocked branches. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112:5597–5601
11 Functional Rotaxanes
303
opportunities for construction of novel functional materials, such as smart surfaces
with switchable properties, controlled drug release systems, and self-healing materials. Herein, we foresee a challenging but bright prospect for rotaxanes. The synergy
between new synthetic methodology, functionalization, and materials applications
would bring about further developments and extensive applications of rotaxanes in
the coming years. As the ultimate purpose, advanced functional materials and
devices based on rotaxanes would bring a novel industrial generation toward the
smart period.
References
1. (a) Balzani V, Credi A, Raymo FM, Stoddart JF (2000) Artificial molecular machines. Angew
Chem Int Ed 39:3348–3391; (b) Sauvage JP, Amendola V (2001) Molecular machines and
motors. Springer Science and Business Media; (c) Kinbara K, Aida T (2005) Toward intelligent
molecular machines: directed motions of biological and artificial molecules and assemblies.
Chem Rev 105:1377–1400; (d) Kay ER, Leigh DA, Zerbetoo F (2007) Synthetic molecular
motors and mechanical machines. Angew Chem Int Ed 46:72–191; (e) Balzani V, Venturi M,
Credi A (2008) Molecular devices and machines. Concepts and perspectives for the nanoworld,
2nd edn, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim; (f) Balzani V, Credi A, Venturi M (2009) Light powered
molecular machines. Chem Soc Rev 38:1542–1550; (g) Coskun A, Banaszak M, Astumian RD,
Stoddart JF, Grzybowski BA (2012) Great expectations: can artificial molecular machines
deliver on their promise? Chem Soc Rev 41:19–30; (h) Abendroth JM, Bushuyev OS, Weiss
PS, Barrett CJ (2015) Controlling motion at the nanoscale: rise of the molecular machines. ACS
Nano 9:7746–7768; (i) Erbas-Cakmak S, Leigh DA, McTernan CT, Nussbaumer AL (2015)
Artificial molecular machines. Chem Rev 115:10081–10206
2. (a) Anelli PL, Spencer N, Stoddart JF (1991) A molecular shuttle. J Am Chem Soc
113:5131–5133; (b) Harada A, Li J, Kamachi M (1992) Synthesis of a tubular polymer from
threaded cyclodextrins. Nature 356:325–327; (c) Badjić JD, Balzani V, Credi A, Silvi S,
Stoddart JF (2004) A molecular elevator. Science 303:1845–1849; (d) Tian H, Wang QC
(2006) Recent progress on switchable rotaxanes. Chem Soc Rev 35:361–374; (e) Serreli V,
Lee CF, Kay ER, Leigh DA (2007) A molecular information ratchet. Nature 445:523–527;
(f) Lee CF, Leigh DA, Pritchard RG, Schultz D, Teat SJ, Timco GA, Winpenny REP (2009)
Hybrid organic-inorganic rotaxanes and molecular shuttles. Nature 458:314–318; (g) Ma X,
Tian H (2010) Bright functional rotaxanes. Chem Soc Rev 39:70–80; (h) Xue M, Yang Y,
Chi X, Yan X, Huang F (2015) Development of pseudorotaxanes and rotaxanes: from synthesis
to stimuli-responsive motions to applications. Chem Rev 115:7398–7501; (i) Gao C, Luan ZL,
Zhang Q, Yang S, Rao SJ, Qu DH, Tian H (2017) Triggering a [2]rotaxane molecular shuttle by
a photochemical bond-cleavage strategy. Org Lett 19:1618–1621; (j) Yang S, Luan ZL, Gao C,
Yu JJ, Qu DH (2018) Triggering a [2] rotaxane molecular shuttle through hydrogen sulfide. Sci
China Chem 61:1674–7291
3. (a) Bordoli RJ, Goldup SM (2014) An efficient approach to mechanically planar chiral
rotaxanes. J Am Chem Soc 136:4817–4820; (b) Stoddart JF (2014) Putting mechanically
interlocked molecules (MIMs) to work in tomorrow’s world. Angew Chem Int Ed
53:11102–11104; (c) van Dongen SFM, Cantekin S, Elemans JAAW, Rowan AE, Nolte RJM
(2014) Functional interlocked systems. Chem Soc Rev 43:99–122; (d) Qu DH, Wang QC,
Zhang QW, Ma X, Tian H (2015) Photoresponsive host-guest functional systems. Chem Rev
115:7543–7588; (e) Wang W, Chen LJ, Wang XQ, Sun B, Li X, Zhang Y, Shi J, Yu Y, Zhang L,
Liu M, Yang HB (2015) Organometallic rotaxane dendrimers with fourth-generation mechanically interlocked branches. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112:5597–5601
11 Functional Rotaxanes
303