A Bistable Poly[2]catenane Forms Nanosuperstructures

Abstract
Side‐chain poly[2]catenanes at the click of a switch! A bistable side‐chain poly[2]catenane has been synthesized and found to form hierarchical self‐assembled hollow superstructures of nanoscale dimensions in solution. Molecular electromechanical switching (see picture) of the material is demonstrated, and the ground‐state equilibrium thermodynamics and switching kinetics are examined as the initial steps towards processible molecular‐based electronic devices and nanoelectromechanical systems. magnified image