Hierarchical self-assembly of discrete bis-[2]pseudorotaxane metallacycle with bis-pillar[5]arene host-guest interactions and their redox-responsive behaviors.

A discrete rhomboidal metallacycle R functionalized with bis-[2]pseudorotaxane of [Cu(phenanthroline)] derivatives was successfully synthesized coordination-driven self-assembly. Furthermore, the host-guest complexation of such a bis-[2]pseudorotaxane metallacycle with a bis-pillar[5]arene (bisP5) allowed for the formation of a new family of cross-linked supramolecular polymers R⊃(bisP5), which displayed interesting redox-responsive properties. By taking advantage of the substantial structural differences between the coordination geometries of [Cu(phenanthroline)] and [Cu(phenanthroline)], the weight-average diffusion coefficients of the supramolecular polymer were adjusted through changing the redox state of the Cu(i)/Cu(ii) complexes.