Artificial molecular devices based on tetrathiafulvalene

Over the past two decades, the relative motion of the components in mechanically interlocked molecules-catenanes and rotaxanes-has been extensively demonstrated in solution. More recently, the area of molecular electronics has advanced considerably and over the past four years, catenanes and rotaxanes have been utilized as the active molecules in solid-state switchable tunnel junction devices. We present here new amphiphilic switchable [2]rotaxanes suitable for integration into nano-scale devices.