title: Mechanically interlocked single-wall carbon nanotubes.
abstract: Extensive research has been devoted to the chemical manipulation of carbon nanotubes. The attachment of molecular fragments through covalent-bond formation produces kinetically stable products, but implies the saturation of some of the C-C double bonds of the nanotubes. Supramolecular modification maintains the structure of the SWNTs but yields labile species. Herein, we present a strategy for the synthesis of mechanically interlocked derivatives of SWNTs (MINTs). In the key rotaxane-forming step, we employed macrocycle precursors equipped with two π-extended tetrathiafulvalene SWNT recognition units and terminated with bisalkenes that were closed around the nanotubes through ring-closing metathesis (RCM). The mechanically interlocked nature of the derivatives was probed by analytical, spectroscopic, and microscopic techniques, as well as by appropriate control experiments. Individual macrocycles were observed by HR STEM to circumscribe the nanotubes.
authors.affiliation: IMDEA Nanoscience, C/Faraday 9, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid (Spain).
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Juan
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pouillon
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ruiz-González
authors.forename: Almudena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torres-Pardo
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casado
authors.forename: Nazario
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Ángel
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: Emilio M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Pérez
keywords: nanotubes; ring-closing metathesis; rotaxanes; supramolecular chemistry; π interactions