Selective Scission of Orthogonal Bonds in Four-Membered Ring Mechanophores upon Activation by a Rotaxane Actuator.

ABSTRACT: Mechanophores (mechanosensitive molecules) are usually activated by pulling force transduced by polymer covalently attached to their structures. A variety of mechanophores have been described to date but many rely on a limited number of core structures. The diversity of products formed mechanochemically could be improved by promoting the scission of varied bonds within a single mechanophore. 4-membered rings are particularly suited for this as two sets of products can be obtained by formal retro-[2 + 2] cycloaddition depending on the pulling direction. This concept has been applied to a couple of mechanophores but the repositioning of the anchoring points often requires a redesign of the structures, and the pulling activation is not amenable to the release of the products. Here we show tha

SUBMITTER: Chen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12416471 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature