title: Molecular motion of donor-acceptor catenanes in water.
abstract: In this article, we use (1)H NMR spectroscopy to study the spontaneous molecular motion of donor-acceptor [2]catenanes in water. Our data supports the hypothesis that conformational motion dominantly occurs through a pirouetting mechanism, which involves less exposure of hydrophobic surfaces than in a rotation mechanism. Motion is controlled by the size of the catenane rings and the arrangement of the electron-deficient and electron-rich aromatic units.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
authors.forename: Fabien B L
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Cougnon
authors.forename: Nandhini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ponnuswamy
authors.forename: G Dan
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Pantoş
authors.forename: Jeremy K M
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sanders