A rotaxane synthesis based on stilbene photoisomerization. A photoswitchable catch and release processElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: NMR spectra. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/cc/b3/b306349f/

Abstract

A [2]rotaxane, having (Z)-alpha-methylstilbene as a stopper, is (1) synthesized in good yield by using a (E)- to (Z)-stilbene photoisomerization process, and (2) dissociated by reverse photoisomerization from (Z)- to (E)-stilbene.