The self-assembly and metal-mediated disassembly of a multi-topic [2]pseudorotaxane

Abstract

A [2]pseudorotaxane, consisting of the cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) tetracation complexing a polyether chain intercepted in its middle by a hydroquinone ring and terminated at each end by 12-crown-4 macrocycles, undergoes disassembly readily in acetonitrile solution on addition of alkali metal salts.