Azobenzene-Bridged Expanded “Texas-sized” Box: A Dual-Responsive Receptor for Aryl Dianion Encapsulation

We
report an expanded “Texas-sized” molecular box
(AzoTxSB) that incorporates photoresponsive azobenzene
bridging subunits and anion recognition motifs. The shape of this
box can be switched through light induced E ↔ Z photoisomerization
of the constituent azobenzenes. This allows various anionic substrates
to be bound and released by using different forms of the box. Control
can also be achieved using other environmental stimuli, such as pH
and anion competition.