Naphthalimide shuttle

Naphthalimide can be reduced to the corresponding radical anion. Compared to naphthalimide, its radical anion exhibits high hydrogen binding affinity with hydrogen donors. By using these properties of naphthalimide, a molecular shuttle based on... 

Tian et al. developed a photo-driven [2]rotaxane molecular shuttle (Figure 56) with dual fluorescent units. The [2]rotaxane comprises an a-CD bound mechanically with an axle containing an azobenzene unit and two different fluorescent naphthalimide units. The two fluorescent naphthalimide units exhibit different fluorescent signals... 

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