Light-harvesting in multichromophoric rotaxanes.
Two rotaxanes with benzyl ether axles and tetralactam wheels were synthesized through an anion template effect. They carry naphthalene chromophores attached to the stopper groups and a pyrene chromophore attached to the wheel. The difference between the two rotaxanes is represented by the connecting unit of the naphthyl chromophore to the rotaxane axle: a triazole or an alkynyl group. Both rotaxanes exhibit excellent light-harvesting properties: excitation of the naphthalene chromophores is followed by energy transfer to the pyrene unit with efficiency higher than 90% in both cases. This represents an example of light-harvesting function among chromophores belonging to mechanically interlocked components, that is, the axle and the wheel of the rotaxanes.
Department of Chemistry G. Ciamician, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
Maria E
ME
Gallina
Bilge
B
Baytekin
Christoph
C
Schalley
Paola
P
Ceroni