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Creators/Authors contains: "Mao, Haochuan"

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  5. Abstract

    Complexation between a viologen radical cation (V.+) and cyclobis(paraquat‐p‐phenylene) diradical dication (CBPQT2(.+)) has been investigated and utilized extensively in the construction of mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) and artificial molecular machines (AMMs). The selective recognition of a pair ofV.+using radical‐pairing interactions, however, remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we report the efficient encapsulation of two methyl viologen radical cations (MV.+) in a size‐matched bisradical dicationic host — namely, cyclobis(paraquat‐2,6‐naphthalene)2(.+), i.e.,CBPQN2(.+). Central to this dual recognition process was the choice of 2,6‐bismethylenenaphthalene linkers for incorporation into the bisradical dicationic host. They provide the space between the two bipyridinium radical cations inCBPQN2(.+)suitable for binding twoMV.+with relatively short (3.05–3.25 Å) radical‐pairing distances. The size‐matched bisradical dicationic host was found to exhibit highly selective and cooperative association with the twoMV.+in MeCN at room temperature. The formation of the tetrakisradical tetracationic inclusion complex — namely, [(MV)2CBPQN]4(.+)– in MeCN was confirmed by VT1H NMR, as well as by EPR spectroscopy. The solid‐state superstructure of [(MV)2CBPQN]4(.+)reveals an uneven distribution of the binding distances (3.05, 3.24, 3.05 Å) between the three differentV.+, suggesting that localization of the radical‐pairing interactions has a strong influence on the packing of the twoMV.+inside the bisradical dicationic host. Our findings constitute a rare example of binding two radical guests with high affinity and cooperativity using host‐guest radical‐pairing interactions. Moreover, they open up possibilities of harnessing the tetrakisradical tetracationic inclusion complex as a new, orthogonal and redox‐switchable recognition motif for the construction of MIMs and AMMs.

     
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