title: Photo-driven molecular devices.
abstract: In this critical review, we discuss switching of the light-powered bistable rotaxanes and catenanes and highlight the practical applications of some of these systems. Photoactive molecular and supramolecular machines are comprised of two parts-1) a switching element, based on noncovalent interactions within the recognition units, which is responsible for executing mechanical movement, and 2) a light-harvesting unit which utilizes light to control the competitive interactions between the recognition sites. We also survey another class of molecular devices, namely molecular rotary motors--i.e., those that behave like their macroscopic counterparts--in which photochemically and thermally induced mechanical movement relies on isomerizations of a pivotal C=C bond, leading to a rotation of the top propeller part with respect to the stationary bottom part of the helical shaped chiral molecule. (146 references.).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Sourav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: J Fraser
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Stoddart