Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 9 Chemical system for mimicking an electrical extension cable. Structural formulas of the
three molecular components 7
2+
, 8-H
+
and 9
2+
(a), which self-assemble in solution (CH
2
Cl
2
; room
temperature) to give the 7
2+
9
2+
triad (b). In the fully connected system, excitation with
visible light of the Ru-based unit of 7
2+
is followed by electron transfer to 9
2+
, with 8-H
+
playing
the role of an extension cable [
58
]
8-H
+
interactions, a biphenyl spacer, and a benzonaphtho[36]crown-10 unit, which fulfils
the role of a
-electron-rich socket. Finally, the 1,1
'
-dioctyl-4,4
'
-bipyridinium
dication 9
2
þ
can play the role of an electron drain plug. In CH
2
Cl
2
solution,
reversible connection-disconnection of the two plug-socket junctions can be con-
trolled independently by acid-base and redox stimulation, respectively, and moni-
tored by changes in the absorption and emission spectra, owing to the different
nature of the interactions (hydrogen bonding and
p
p
-electron donor-acceptor) that
the components. In the fully assembled triad, 7
2
þ
8H
þ
9
2
þ
,
connect
light
