Modulating Pt⋯Pt metal–metal interactions through conformationally switchable molecular tweezer/guest complexation

Abstract

Herein a new organoplatinum(II)-based molecular tweezer has been designed and synthesized, which displays pH-responsive mechanical transformation from the “U”- to “W”-shaped conformation. Pt(II)⋯Pt(II) metal–metal interactions have been successfully incorporated into the resulting molecular tweezer/guest recognition motifs and self-assembled polymers, which can be modulated in response to pH variation.