Molecular switches that can undergo reversible switching between two or more different states in response to external stimuli have been used in the fabrication of various optoelectronic devices and smart materials for...Molecular switches that can undergo reversible switching between two or more different states in response to external stimuli have been used in the fabrication of various optoelectronic devices and smart materials for many decades, and also found many applications in sensing, molecular self-assembly and photo-controlled biological systems. Recently, mechanically interlocked molecules, such as rotaxanes and catenanes, and molecular rotary motors based on overcrowded alkenes have emerged as two new kinds of molecular switches. Some novel applications of above-mentioned molecular switches have been discovered. In this mini review, we mainly highlight noticeable achievements over the past decade in this field, and summarize the applications of new types of molecular switches, for instance, controlling the chiral space to regulate catalytic reaction as organocatalysts, controlling molecular motions, synthesizing a peptide in a sequence-specific manner and modulating the wettability of the self-assembled monolayers.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21272073,21421004,21190033)the National Basic Research Program of China(2011CB808400)+1 种基金the Fok Ying Tong Education Foundation(121069)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,and the Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission
文摘Molecular switches that can undergo reversible switching between two or more different states in response to external stimuli have been used in the fabrication of various optoelectronic devices and smart materials for many decades, and also found many applications in sensing, molecular self-assembly and photo-controlled biological systems. Recently, mechanically interlocked molecules, such as rotaxanes and catenanes, and molecular rotary motors based on overcrowded alkenes have emerged as two new kinds of molecular switches. Some novel applications of above-mentioned molecular switches have been discovered. In this mini review, we mainly highlight noticeable achievements over the past decade in this field, and summarize the applications of new types of molecular switches, for instance, controlling the chiral space to regulate catalytic reaction as organocatalysts, controlling molecular motions, synthesizing a peptide in a sequence-specific manner and modulating the wettability of the self-assembled monolayers.
