A new molecular switch: redox-driven translocation mechanism of the copper cation

Abstract

We report the synthesis of a novel molecular switch based on a double-stranded ditopic ligand which operates through the Cu^II/Cu^I couple; the mononuclear cuprous and cupric complexes were characterised by absorption spectrophotometry; reversible motion of the copper ion between the two binding sites is driven by an auxiliary oxidation and reduction reaction; the rate-limiting steps of this translocation process were determined as well as the corresponding kinetic parameters.