Photoswitchable Rotaxanes Possessing the Acridan-Subunit (II)

Acridans bearing suitable leaving groups are capable of forming acridinium ions by the help of photoexcitation. On this way an electron donor is converted into an electron acceptor. This principle of a photoswitch can be used to control rotaxanes. Molecular threads and macrocycles incorporating the acridane or acridinium subunit are synthesised. The photochemistry and photophysics are studied.