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89 Zr-immunoPET is a hot topic as 89 Zr cumulates the advantages of 64 Cu and 124 I without their drawbacks. We report the synthesis of a model ligand of a chiral bioconjugable tetrahydroxamic chelator combining the desferriferrioxamine B siderophore and 1-hydroxy-2-piperidone ((PIPO)H), a chiral cyclic hydroxamic acid derivative, and the study by NMR spectroscopy of its zirconium complex. Nuclear Overhauser effect measurements (ROESY) indicated that the complex exists in the form of two diastereomers, in 77 : 23 ratio, resulting from the combination of the central chiralities at the 3-C of the (PIPO)H component and at the Zr 4+ cation. The 44 lowest energy structures out of more than 1000 configurations/conformations returned by calculations based on density functional theory were examined. Comparison of the ROESY data and the calculated interatomic H⋅⋅⋅H distances allowed us to select the most probable configuration and conformations of the major complex., (© 2024 The Authors. ChemPlusChem published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Two different alkynyl-substituted C 3 -symmetric cyclotribenzylenes (CTB) were synthesized in racemic and enantiomerically pure forms, and six gold(I) phosphine complexes differing by the nature of the CTB and the phosphine were prepared and characterized, in particular by NMR spectroscopy, DOSY, electronic circular dichroism (ECD), and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Their ECD patterns depended on the substitution of the starting CTBs and were shifted bathochromically by comparison with the latter. ESI-MS in the presence of HCO 2 H allowed us to detect the complexes as proton adducts. The intensities of the signals were stronger when the phosphine was more electron-rich. This technique was also used to investigate the exchange of phosphine betweeen pairs of CTB complexes. The scrambling reaction was demonstrated by the higher intensity of the signals of the complexes subjected to the exchange of a single phosphine ligand by comparison with the intensity of the signals of the starting complexes.

227 Th is a promising radioisotope for targeted α-particle therapy. It produces 5 α-particles through its decay, with the clinically approved 223 Ra as its first daughter. There is an ample supply of 227 Th, allowing for clinical use; however, the chemical challenges of chelating this large tetravalent f -block cation are considerable. Using the CD20-targeting antibody ofatumumab, we evaluated chelation of 227 Th 4+ for α-particle-emitting and radiotheranostic applications. Methods: We compared 4 bifunctional chelators for thorium radiopharmaceutical preparation: S-2-(4-Isothiocyanatobenzyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane tetraacetic acid ( p -SCN-Bn-DOTA), 2-(4-isothicyanatobenzyl)-1,2,7,10,13-hexaazacyclooctadecane-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaacetic acid ( p -SCN-Bn-HEHA), p -isothiacyanatophenyl-1-hydroxy-2-oxopiperidine-desferrioxamine (DFOcyclo*- p- Phe-NCS), and macrocyclic 1,2-HOPO N -hydroxysuccinimide (L804-NHS). Immunoconstructs were evaluated for yield, purity, and stability in vitro and in vivo. Tumor targeting of the lead 227 Th-labeled compound in vivo was performed in CD20-expressing models and compared with a companion 89 Zr-labeled PET agent. Results: 227 Th-labeled ofatumumab-chelator constructs were synthesized to a radiochemical purity of more than 95%, excepting HEHA. 227 Th-HEHA-ofatumumab showed moderate in vitro stability. 227 Th-DFOcyclo*-ofatumumab presented excellent 227 Th labeling efficiency; however, high liver and spleen uptake was revealed in vivo, indicative of aggregation. 227 Th-DOTA-ofatumumab labeled poorly, yielding no more than 5%, with low specific activity (0.08 GBq/g) and modest long-term in vitro stability (<80%). 227 Th-L804-ofatumumab coordinated 227 Th rapidly and efficiently at high yields, purity, and specific activity (8 GBq/g) and demonstrated extended stability. In vivo tumor targeting confirmed the utility of this chelator, and the diagnostic analog, 89 Zr-L804-ofatumumab, showed organ distribution matching that of 227 Th to delineate SU-DHL-6 tumors. Conclusion: Commercially available and novel chelators for 227 Th showed a range of performances. The L804 chelator can be used with potent radiotheranostic capabilities for 89 Zr/ 227 Th quantitative imaging and α-particle therapy., (© 2023 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.)

The syntheses and properties of expanded 4-tert-butyl-mercaptocalix[4]arenes, in which the methylene linkers are replaced by -CH 2 NRCH 2 - or -CH 2 NRCH 2 - and -CH 2 NRCH 2 CH 2 CH 2 NRCH 2 - units, are described. The new macrocycles were obtained in a step-wise manner, utilizing fully protected, i. e. S-alkylated, derivatives of the oxidation-sensitive thiophenols in the cyclisation steps. Reductive cleavage of the macrobicyclic or macrotricyclic intermediates (6, 7, 11) afforded the free thiophenols (H 4 8, H 4 9, and H 4 12) in preparative yields as their hydrochloride salts. The protected proligands can exist in two conformations, resembling the "cone" and "1,3-alternate" conformations found for the parent calix[4]arenes. The free macrocycles do not show conformational isomerism, but are readily oxidized forming intramolecular disulfide linkages. Preliminary complexation experiments show that these expanded mercaptocalixarenes can serve as supporting ligands for tetranuclear thiolato clusters., (© 2022 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Chiral gold(I) acetylide trinuclear complexes 1-3 based on the cyclotribenzylene platform and terminal PR 3 ligands (R=Ph, Et, and Cy, respectively), were characterized and their light emission studied. They exhibited long-lived blue phosphorescence in CHCl 3 and a weak fluorescence in the UV. In MeOH/CHCl 3 mixtures of >1:1 volume ratio, 1 and 2 exhibited a new emission band at ca. 540 nm that developed at the expense of the UV emission. DLS studies demonstrated the presence of molecular aggregates of Ø 30-80 nm. The green emission observed in MeOH-rich solvent mixtures was therefore induced by aggregation, and could originate from Au⋅⋅⋅Au interactions. The AIE spectrum of 3 was observed only in solutions containing 99 % of MeOH, and correlated with its solid state emission. The AIE profiles of the enantiomers of 1 differed from that of rac-1, suggesting that the latter is a true racemate., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Actinide-based mineral phases occurring in contaminated soils can be solubilized by organic chelators excreted by plants, such as citrate. Herein, the efficiency of citrate towards U and Pu extraction is compared to that of siderophores, whose primary function is the acquisition of iron(III) as an essential nutrient and growth factor for many soil microorganisms. To that end, we selected desferrioxamine B (DFB) as an emblematic bacterial trishydroxamic siderophore and a synthetic analog, abbreviated (L Cy,Pr )H 2 , of the tetradentate rhodotorulic acid (RA) produced by yeasts. Firstly, the uranyl speciation with both ligands was assessed in the pH range 2-11 by potentiometry and visible absorption spectrophotometry. Equilibrium constants and absorption spectra for three [UO 2 (DFB)H h ] (h-1)+ (h = 1-3) and five [UO 2 (L Cy,Pr ) l H h ] (2+h-2l)+ (-1 ≤ h ≤ 1 for l = 1 and h = 0-1 for l = 2) solution complexes were determined at 25.0 °C and I = 0.1 M KNO 3 . Similar studies for the Fe 3+ /(L Cy,Pr ) 2- system revealed the formation of five species having [Fe(L Cy,Pr )] + , [Fe(L Cy,Pr )OH], [Fe(L Cy,Pr )(OH) 2 ] - , [Fe(L Cy,Pr ) 2 H], and [Fe 2 (L Cy,Pr ) 3 ] compositions. Then, the ability of DFB, (L Cy,Pr )H 2 , and citrate to solubilize either U or Pu from pitchblende-rich soils (soils 1 and 2) or freshly plutonium-contaminated soils (LBS and PG) was evaluated by performing batch extraction tests. U was extracted significantly only by citrate after a day. After one week, the amount of U complexed by citrate only slightly exceeded that measured for the siderochelates, following the order citrate > (L Cy,Pr )H 2  ≥ DFB ≈ H 2 O, and were comparatively very low. Pu was also more efficiently extracted by citrate than by DFB after a day, but only by a factor of ~2-3 for the PG soil, while the Pu concentration in the supernatant after one week was approximately the same for both natural chelators. It remained nearly constant for DFB between the 1st and 7th day, but drastically decreased in the case of citrate, suggesting chemical decomposition in the latter case. For the Fe-rich soils 1 and 2, the efficiencies of the three chelators to solubilize Fe after a day were of the same order of magnitude, decreasing in the order DFB > citrate > (L Cy,Pr )H 2 . However, after a week DFB had extracted ~1.5 times more Fe, whereas the amount extracted by the other chelators stayed constant. For the less Fe-rich LBS and PG soils contaminated by Pu, the amounts of extracted Fe were higher, especially after 7 days, and the DFB outperformed citrate by a factor of nearly 3. The higher capacity of the hexadentate DFB to extract Pu in the presence of Fe and its lower ability to mobilize U qualitatively agree with the respective complexation constant ratios, keeping in mind that both Pu-containing soils had a lower iron loading. Noticeably, (L Cy,Pr )H 2 has roughly the same capacity as DFB to solubilize U, but it mobilizes less Fe than the hexadentate siderophore. Similarly, citrate has the highest capacity to extract Pu, but the lowest to extract Fe. Therefore, compared to DFB, (L Cy,Pr )H 2 shows a better U/Fe extraction selectivity and citrate shows a better Pu/Fe selectivity., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Currently, the most commonly used chelator for labelling antibodies with 89 Zr for immunoPET is desferrioxamine B (DFO). However, preclinical studies have shown that the limited in vivo stability of the 89 Zr-DFO complex results in release of 89 Zr, which accumulates in mineral bone. Here we report a novel chelator DFOcyclo*, a preorganized extended DFO derivative that enables octacoordination of the 89 Zr radiometal. The aim was to compare the in vitro and in vivo stability of [ 89 Zr]Zr-DFOcyclo*, [ 89 Zr]Zr-DFO* and [ 89 Zr]Zr-DFO., Methods: The stability of 89 Zr-labelled chelators alone and after conjugation to trastuzumab was evaluated in human plasma and PBS, and in the presence of excess EDTA or DFO. The immunoreactive fraction, IC 50 , and internalization rate of the conjugates were evaluated using HER2-expressing SKOV-3 cells. The in vivo distribution was investigated in mice with subcutaneous HER2 + SKOV-3 or HER2 - MDA-MB-231 xenografts by PET/CT imaging and quantitative ex vivo tissue analyses 7 days after injection., Results: 89 Zr-labelled DFO, DFO* and DFOcyclo* were stable in human plasma for up to 7 days. In competition with EDTA, DFO* and DFOcyclo* showed higher stability than DFO. In competition with excess DFO, DFOcyclo*-trastuzumab was significantly more stable than the corresponding DFO and DFO* conjugates (p < 0.001). Cell binding and internalization were similar for the three conjugates. In in vivo studies, HER2 + SKOV-3 tumour-bearing mice showed significantly lower bone uptake (p < 0.001) 168 h after injection with [ 89 Zr]Zr-DFOcyclo*-trastuzumab (femur 1.5 ± 0.3%ID/g, knee 2.1 ± 0.4%ID/g) or [ 89 Zr]Zr-DFO*-trastuzumab (femur 2.0 ± 0.3%ID/g, knee 2.68 ± 0.4%ID/g) than after injection with [ 89 Zr]Zr-DFO-trastuzumab (femur 4.5 ± 0.6%ID/g, knee 7.8 ± 0.6%ID/g). Blood levels, tumour uptake and uptake in other organs were not significantly different at 168 h after injection. HER2 - MDA-MB-231 tumour-bearing mice showed significantly lower tumour uptake (p < 0.001) after injection with [ 89 Zr]Zr-DFOcyclo*-trastuzumab (16.2 ± 10.1%ID/g) and [ 89 Zr]Zr-DFO-trastuzumab (19.6 ± 3.2%ID/g) than HER2 + SKOV-3 tumour-bearing mice (72.1 ± 14.6%ID/g and 93.1 ± 20.9%ID/g, respectively), while bone uptake was similar., Conclusion: 89 Zr-labelled DFOcyclo* and DFOcyclo*-trastuzumab showed higher in vitro and in vivo stability than the current commonly used 89 Zr-DFO-trastuzumab. DFOcyclo* is a promising candidate to become the new clinically used standard chelator for 89 Zr immunoPET.

The past ten years have seen a spectacular development of chemical sensors based on the monomer-excimer dual luminescence of aromatic systems, such as pyrene. Either in the form of integrated or multicomponent molecular devices these chemosensors have been attracting a high interest above all because of their unique ratiometric properties. This review will focus on the latter systems, which can be classified into two classes: Firstly, the assembly of receptor-effector conjugates is triggerred by the analyte of interest. As a result, the sensor shows monomer to excimer fluorescence switching upon substrate binding. Secondly, the supramolecular assembly that constitutes the sensor is perturbed by interaction with the analyte. This induces a conformational change or the exchange of a component of the system, which is the cause of the luminescence switch effect., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Cyclotriguaiacylene 1 is the universal precursor of cryptophanes, and represents an important intermediate for the preparation of functionalized cavitands of the cyclotriveratrylene family. Its thio analogue (cyclotrithioguaiacylene 3) was synthesized by two different routes, involving either the Newman-Kwart or the Pummerer rearrangement. The latter, performed starting from a trisulfoxide precursor, produced a purer compound in higher overall yield.

The ion pair of the stereolabile C(3)-symmetric, i(+)o proton complex [1H](+) of diaza-macropentacycle 1 and the configurationally stable Delta-TRISPHAT ([Delta-3](-)) anion exists in the form of two diastereomers, namely, [Delta-(1.H)][Delta-3] and [Lambda-(1.H)][Delta-3], the ratio of which, in terms of diastereomeric excess (de) decreases in the order [D(8)]THF (28%)>CD(2)Cl(2) (22%)>CDCl(3) (20%)>[D(8)]toluene (16%)>C(6)D(6) (7%)>[D(6)]acetone (0%) at thermodynamic equilibrium. Except in the case of [D(6)]acetone, the latter is reached after a period of time that increases from 1 h ([D(8)]THF) to 24 h (CDCl(3)). Moreover, the initial value of the de of [1.H][Delta-3] in CDCl(3), before the thermodynamic equilibrium is reached, depends on the solvent in which the sample has been previously equilibrated (sample "history"). This property has been used to show that the crystals of [1.H][Delta-3] formed by slow evaporation of CH(2)Cl(2)/CH(3)OH mixtures had 100% de, which indicates that [1.H][Delta-3] has enjoyed a crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation. Structural studies in solution (NMR spectroscopy) and in the gas phase by calculations at the semiempirical PM6 level of theory suggest that the optically active anion is docked on the i(+) (endo) external side of the proton complex such that one of the aromatic rings of [Delta-3](-) is inserted into a groove of [1.H](+), a second aromatic ring being placed astride the outside i(+) pocket. Solvent polarity controls the thermodynamics of inversion of the [1.H](+) propeller. However, both polarity and basicity control its kinetics. Therefore, the rate-limiting steps correspond to the ion-pair separation/recombination and [1.H](+)/1 deprotonation/protonation processes, rather than the inversion of [1H](+), the latter being likely to take place in the deprotonated form (1).

Proton complexation differs from simple protonation by the fact that the coordinated hydrogen atom is bound intramolecularly to more than one donor atom. This is usually achieved by covalent bonding supplemented by hydrogen bonding. In a few cases, however, the complexed proton is hydrogen-bound to all donor atoms, which gives rise to single well (SWHB) and low barrier (LBHB) hydrogen bonds. This tutorial review highlights a full range of proton complexes formed with chelating and "proton-sponge"-type ligands, cryptand-like macropolycycles, and molecules of topological relevance, such as rotaxanes and catenanes. The concept of proton complexation can explain how the smallest cation possible can bring molecules to order and trigger intramolecular molecular rearrangements and motions.

The protonation of a sterically crowded [N2S6] macropentacycle (1) with 1 equiv of CF3SO3H in CDCl3 is slow and gives the singly (oo(+) [1 x H](+)) and doubly (o(+)o(+) [1 x 2H](2+)) protonated forms as kinetic products, the i(+)o form of [1 x H](+) being the thermodynamic product. i(+)o [1 x H](+) is C3 helically chiral in the solid state and in solution. The barrier to racemization (DeltaG(double dagger)) of the [1 x H](+) propeller is >71 kJ mol(-1). The ammonium proton is encapsulated in the tetrahedral coordination sphere provided by the endo (i) nitrogen bridgehead atom and the three proximal thioether sulfurs, which makes [1 x H](+) a proton complex. Use of the optically active acid (R)-(-)- or (S)-(+)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diyl hydrogen phosphate (BNPH) in chloroform allowed us to induce a significant diastereomeric excess (24% de), which produced a detectable ICD. The de was decreased in acetone-d6 (10%), suggesting that the sense of chirality of [1 x H](+) is controlled by ion-pair interactions. Detailed NMR studies allowed us to locate the chiral anion on the endo side of [1 x H](+), in the cavity lined by endo t-Bu groups, and to establish that the rate of anion exchange in [1 x H][(S,R)-(+/-)-BNP] was higher than the rate of propeller inversion of [1 x H](+).

A sterically encumbered [N(2)S(6)] macropentacycle (5) related to diazamacrobicycles and cryptands has been synthesized in 53% yield by the [1+1] condensation reaction between functionalized macrocyclic and macrotricyclic precursors. A macrononacycle (18) resulting from the corresponding [2+2] condensation was isolated in 7% yield from the reaction mixture. Both compounds showed broad features in their room-temperature (1)H NMR spectra, but their maximal average symmetry (D(3h) and D(2h), respectively) was achieved at high temperature (380 K). At low temperature (200 K, CD(2)Cl(2) solution), the macropentacycle is "frozen" to a single asymmetric (C1) conformation on the (1)H NMR time scale, which has also the molecular structure observed in the solid state by X-ray crystallography: pseudo-triple helical ( not equalC(3)) shape, io (in, out) form resulting from the endo/exo configuration at the nitrogen bridgehead atoms, and similar orientations of the tosyl substituents. The solution dynamics of the molecule can be described by coupled bridgehead nitrogen inversion, triple helix symmetrization, and reversal of triple helix handedness, with DeltaGc = 54.2 kJ mol(-1) in CD(2)Cl(2) at 300 K. Adoption of the io form by macropentacycle 5 in the crystal and in solution at low-temperature most probably results from the steric crowding and strain introduced by the [15]ane-N(2)S(2) macrocyclic bridging subunits.

Cation-pi interactions play an important role in biology. The title compounds are C3-symmetric macrotricycles built from resorcinol, a pi electron-rich arene. They were prepared in up to 18% yield by intramolecular cyclization of 1,3,5-trisubstituted benzene tripods bearing pendant resorcinol groups, with methylene acetal bridges. Positive ESI-MS showed that these receptors recognize NH4+ over K+, and poorly respond to the large t-BuNH3+ cation, suggesting that they bind NH4+ intramolecularly, presumably via cation-pi interactions.

Compound 1, a cryptand-derived macropentacycle, is a flexible molecule that encompasses many conformations (symmetrical, unsymmetrical, and chiral ones) depending on the observation temperature (VT 1H NMR). Selective monoprotonation of this molecule leads to a totally unsymmetrical, rigidly chiral species in solution (1H NMR). Helical chirality and in-out conformation of monoprotonated 1 are observed in the solid state by X-ray diffraction analysis, as well as the proton location. The latter is bound to the endo bridgehead nitrogen atom and involved in hydrogen-bonding interactions with the three closest sulfurs. Significant induction of chirality is triggered by reaction of 1 with the optically active (R)-(-)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diylphosphoric acid. It proceeds with a maximum 24% diastereomeric excess, as shown by the splitting, in the 62:38 intensity ratio, of several 1H NMR signals. These correspond to the two indistinguishable diastereomeric ion pairs: (Lambda-[1-H])((R)-(-)-BNP) and (Delta-[1-H])((R)-(-)-BNP).

Photoinduced processes have been determined in a [2]catenane containing a zinc(II) porphyrin, a gold(III) porphyrin, and two free phenanthroline binding sites, Zn-Au(+), and in the corresponding copper(I) phenanthroline complex, Zn-Cu(+)-Au(+). In acetonitrile solution Zn-Au(+) is present in two different conformations: an extended one, L, which accounts for 40 % of the total, and a compact one, S. In the L conformation, the electron transfer from the excited state of the Zn porphyrin to the gold-porphyrin unit (k = 1.3x10(9) s(-1)) is followed by a slow recombination (k = 8.3x10(7) s(-1)) to the ground state. The processes in the S conformation cannot be clearly resolved but a charge-separated (CS) state is rapidly formed and decays with a lifetime on the order of fifty picoseconds. In the catenate Zn-Cu(+)-Au(+), the zinc-porphyrin excited state initially transfers energy to the Cu(I)-phenantholine unit, producing a metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) excited state localized on the copper complex with a rate k = 1.4x10(9) s(-1). From this excited state the transfer of an electron to the gold-porphyrin unit takes place, producing the CS state Zn-Cu(2+)-Au(.), which decays with a lifetime of 10 ns. The results are discussed in comparison with the closely related [2]rotaxane, in which a further charge shift from the copper center to the zinc-porphyrin unit leads to the fully CS state. Even in the absence of such full charge separation, it is shown that the lifetimes of the CS states are increased by a factor of about 2-2.5 over those of the corresponding rotaxanes.

Steric crowding of the 3-position of tris(pyrazolyl)borate and -methane ligands has produced tetrahedral metal complexes with controlled reactivity. As an alternative, we propose to incorporate the tris(pyrazolyl)methane chelate in a macrobicyclic structure in order to create a cavity with well-defined dimensions and shape. Acid-catalyzed equilibration of excess of the new pyrazole 3-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)benzenemethanethiol acetate with HC(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3) followed by hydrolysis affords a functionalized tris(pyrazolyl)methane, which reacts with 1,3,5-tris(bromomethyl)benzene in K(2)CO(3)/DMF to give the title compound. [structure: see text]

The bis-porphyrin system ZnP(2), in which two zinc porphyrins are connected by a phenanthroline linker in an oblique fashion, acts as a bifunctional receptor towards the complexation of free-base meso-5,10-bis(4'-pyridyl)-15,20-diphenylporphyrin (4'-cis DPyP). In solution, NMR spectroscopy evidenced quantitative formation of the tris-porphyrin macrocyclic assembly ZnP(2)(4'-cis DPyP), in which the two fragments are held together by two axial 4'-N(pyridyl)-Zn interactions. The remarkable stability of the edifice (an association constant of about 6x10(8) M(-1) was determined by UV/Vis absorption and emission titration experiments in toluene) is due to the almost perfect geometrical match between the two interacting units. The macrocycle was crystallized and studied by X-ray diffraction, which confirmed the excellent complementarity of the two components. Photoinduced energy transfer from the singlet excited state of the zinc porphyrin chromophores to the free-base porphyrin occurs with an efficiency of 98 % (k(en)=2x10(10) s(-1) in toluene, ambient temperature) with a mechanism consistent with a dipole-dipole process with a low orientation factor.

A rotaxane containing a ruthenium bisphenanthroline complex, acting as an axis, and a macrocycle incorporating a 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) unit, threaded by the axis, has been synthesized. The bisphenanthroline ligand is such that its ruthenium(II) complexes possess a clearly identified axis, making such compounds ideal components of rotaxanes constructed around an octahedral ruthenium(II) center, which serves as a template. The ring is threaded by the axial ruthenium(II) precursor complex, to afford the corresponding pseudorotaxane in moderate yield. The X-ray structure analysis of this compound reveals the threaded nature of the complex. The length of the threaded ring (35 atoms in the periphery) is too short to allow easy threading of the axis through the macrocycle. As a consequence, an isomer is also obtained for which the axial ruthenium complex is attached in an exo fashion. (1)H NMR studies have been carried out, which reveal various conformational equilibria for the pseudorotaxane. Light-induced decoordination of the bpy-containing cyclic fragment was shown to be quantitative and to lead to the free ring and the axial ruthenium(II) complex, regardless of the starting compound (pseudorotaxane or exo isomer). Finally, the real rotaxane could be prepared, although it could not be separated from its exo isomer.

A series of [2]-rotaxanes has been synthesized in which two Zn(II)-porphyrins (ZnP) electron donors were attached as stoppers on the rod. A macrocycle attached to a Au(III)-porphyrin (AuP+) acceptor was threaded on the rod. By selective excitation of either porphyrin, we could induce an electron transfer from the ZnP to the AuP+ unit that generated the same ZnP*+-AuP* charge-transfer state irrespective of which porphyrin was excited. Although the reactants were linked only by mechanical or coordination bonds, electron-transfer rate constants up to 1.2x10(10) x s(-1) were obtained over a 15-17 A edge-to-edge distance between the porphyrins. The resulting charge-transfer state had a relatively long lifetime of 10-40 ns and was formed in high yield (>80%) in most cases. By a simple variation of the link between the reactants, viz. a coordination of the phenanthroline units on the rotaxane rod and ring by either Ag+ or Cu+, we could enhance the electron-transfer rate from the ZnP to the excited 3AuP+. We interpret our data in terms of an enhanced superexchange mechanism with Ag+ and a change to a stepwise hopping mechanism with Cu+, involving the oxidized Cu(phen)22+ unit as a real intermediate. When the ZnP unit was excited instead, electron transfer from the excited 1ZnP to AuP+ was not affected, or even slowed, by Ag+ or Cu+. We discuss this asymmetry in terms of the different orbitals involved in mediating the reaction in an electron- and a hole-transfer mechanism. Our results show the possibility to tune the rates of electron transfer between noncovalently linked reactants by a convenient modification of the link. The different effect of Ag+ and Cu+ on the rate with ZnP and AuP+ excitation shows an additional possibility to control the electron-transfer reactions by selective excitation. We also found that coordination of the Cu+ introduced an energy-transfer reaction from 1ZnP to Cu(phen)2+ (k = 5.1x10(9) x s(-1)) that proceeded in competition with electron transfer to AuP+ and was followed by a quantitative energy transfer to give the 3ZnP state (k = 1.5x10(9) x s(-1)).