Switching a molecular shuttle on and off: simple, pH-controlled pseudorotaxanes based on cucurbit[7]uril

Chem Commun (Camb). 2006 May 28:(20):2185-7. doi: 10.1039/b601959e. Epub 2006 Mar 31.

Abstract

Cucurbit[7[uril, the wheel component in two new and structurally simple pseudorotaxanes, shuttles between the two axle termini at low pH, whereas the shuttling motion stops at higher pH, as the wheel is bound to the center of the axle.