Introduction

The past five decades have witnessed the rise and flourishing of host–guest and supramolecular chemistry1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12. Various macrocyclic hosts have been described in the literature based on diverse noncovalent bonding interactions for recognizing specific guests such as small molecules13, ions14, biomolecules15, fullerenes16, and more17. The host–guest recognition between two macrocycles to form hierarchical non-intertwined ring-in-ring or host-in-host assemblies, however, remains an interesting and challenging target in noncovalent synthesis18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25. Such complexes are promising precursors for constructing Russian doll-like superstructures26,27,28,29,30,31 or higher order mechanically interlocked molecules, such as molecular Borromean rings32,33.

Tetracationic cyclophanes, formed by linking together two π-electron-deficient dicationic 4,4′-bipyridinium (BIPY2+) units, represent an important class of synthetic hosts on account of their ability to bind electron-rich guests to form 1:1 or 1:2 host–guest complexes34. Cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene)35 (CBPQT4+) is the most intensively explored (Fig. 1) among these tetracationic cyclophanes because the 6.8 Å centroid-to-centroid distance13 between the two BIPY2+ units of this host which is well-suited for accommodating electron-rich planar aromatic guests such as tetrathiafulvalene36 (TTF), 1,4-bis[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)]ethoxylbenzene37, and others38. The diradical dicationic form—CBPQT2(+•)—of CBPQT4+ can also act as a host, encapsulating 1,1′-dialkyl-4,4′-bipyridinium radical cations (BIPY+•) to form a trisradical tricationic complex [BIPY ⊂ CBPQT]3(+•). The binding in these trisradical complexes is relatively strong as a result of homophilic radical-pairing interactions (Fig. 1) which represented the first examples of radical–radical interactions between host and guest pairs39. Many mechanically interlocked molecules40,41 and redox-switchable molecular machines42,43 have been developed subsequently by employing [BIPY ⊂ CBPQT]3(+•) as a recognition motif.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Design and structures. a Examples of CBPQT4+ and CBPQT2(+•) as hosts. b Proposed superstructures of the tetraradical tetracationic box-in-box complex and Russian doll assemblies

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Recently, we have expanded44 the radical recognition motif to a tetraradical tetracationic host–guest complex in which a square-shaped diradical cyclophane [cyclobis(paraquat-4,4′-biphenylene)]2(+•) (SqBox2(+•)) encapsulates a cyclobis(paraquat-m-phenylene) (m-CBPQT2(+•)) guest. Recognition between these two diradical dicationic cyclophanes is highly selective, while CBPQT2(+•) and SqBox2(+•) exhibit44,45 no binding affinity as a consequence of their mismatched sizes. The m-CBPQT2(+•) cyclophane is, however, unable to encapsulate any guests on account of the relatively small spacing distance between two BIPY+• units, thus precluding its use in the formation of more sophisticated hierarchical superstructures.

Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a rigid tetracationic cyclophane 14+ with a centroid-to-centroid distance (Fig. 1) between two BIPY2+ units of 13.1 Å, which, in its diradical dicationic state 12(+•), is ideal for encapsulating CBPQT2(+•). The strong radical-pairing interactions between 12(+•) and CBPQT2(+•) has led to the formation of a unique tetraradical tetracationic, box-in-box complex. Interestingly, this box-in-box complex can accommodate small aromatic guest molecules inside the void of the CBPQT2(+•) component to generate a series of tetraradical tetracationic Russian doll assemblies, both in solution and in the solid state. This kind of complexation is rare in the case of organic compounds26,27,28,29,30,31.

Results

Synthesis and structural characterization of 1·4PF6

The tetracationic cyclophane 1·4PF6 was obtained (Fig. 2) in 42% yield by the 1:1 cyclization between 2 and 3·2PF6 with tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) as a catalyst. 1·4PF6 was characterized by 1H, 13C, 1H–1H COSY and NOE NMR spectroscopies (Supplementary Figures 1-4), all of which are in support of the existence of a pure highly symmetrical species in solution. Additional evidence for the formation of 1·4PF6 was obtained by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), which detected the species [M − PF6]+ and [M − 2PF6]2+ in the gas phase at m/z = 1152.2163 and 505.1264, respectively. Single crystals were obtained by slow vapor diffusion of iPr2O into a MeCN solution of 1·4PF6 during 4 days. The solid-state structure of 1·4PF6, which was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, indicates (Fig. 2 and Supplementary Figure 15) that the distance between the two BIPY2+ units is ca. 13.1 Å. This separation is expected to be ideal for recognition of CBPQT2(+•), considering that CBPQT2(+•) features46 a 6.9 Å separation of its BIPY+• units, and radical–radical interactions between BIPY+• units typically have spacings46,47 of 3.1–3.3 Å.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Synthesis and crystal structure. a Synthesis of 1·4PF6 and b solid-state structure of 14+

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Solution phase characterization of the box-in-box complex

The association between 12(+•) and CBPQT2(+•) was investigated in the first instance by UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy. Solutions of 1·4PF6 (0.5 mM) and CBPQT·4PF6 (0.5 mM) in MeCN were reduced by Zn dust to generate the corresponding radical cyclophanes 12(+•) and CBPQT2(+•), respectively. Both 12(+•) and CBPQT2(+•) display (Fig. 3a) very similar absorption bands around 600 nm, an observation which is characteristic of radical cationic BIPY+• absorptions in the absence of radical-pairing interactions. The spectrum of a 1:1 mixture of 12(+•) and CBPQT2(+•), however, displays an intense new NIR absorption band around 910 nm characteristic44,48 of radical cationic (BIPY+•)2 dimers. This observation indicates the formation of a complex between 12(+•) and CBPQT2(+•) as a result of strong radical–radical interactions between the BIPY+• units of 12(+•) and CBPQT2(+•). In order to estimate the binding affinity between 12(+•) and CBPQT2(+•), UV–Vis–NIR absorption titrations were carried out by monitoring the change of the NIR absorption band centered on 910 nm. The resulting data could be made to fit a 1:1 isotherm to give (Fig. 3b) a binding constant of Ka = (1.6 ± 0.3) × 104 M–1, which is comparable with that (Ka = 20,000–30,000 M–1 for N-alkyl-substituted BIPY+•) of [BIPY ⊂ CBPQT]3(+•)46,47, and smaller44 than that (Ka = 1.12 ± 0.08 × 105 M–1) of [m-CBPQT ⊂ SqBox]4(+•).

Fig. 3
figure 3

UV–Vis–NIR characterization of [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•). a UV–Vis–NIR spectra (0.50 mM in MeCN, 1 mm path cuvette) of CBPQT2(+•) (blue), 12(+•) (red), and a 1:1 molar ratio of CBPQT2(+•) and 12(+•) (purple); b Vis/NIR Spectra (MeCN, 2 mm cuvette) on titrating CBPQT2(+•) into 12(•+) (0.10 mM). Initial and final spectra are highlighted in blue and purple, respectively. The inset shows the change in absorption at 910 nm on titration of 12(+•) with CBPQT2(+•). Curve fitting is highlighted in red

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Since the viologen diradical dicationic dimer (BIPY+•)2 and the tetraradical tetracationic complex [m-CBPQT ⊂ SqBox]4(+•) are reported44,49 to be diamagnetic, based on EPR measurements, the tetraradical tetracationic host–guest complex [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) was also expected to be diamagnetic. Thus, we sought to characterize the host–guest complex by 1H NMR spectroscopy, as we have previously succeeded45 in doing for the tetraradical tetracationic state of a rotaxane, based on the [m-CBPQT ⊂ SqBox]4(+•) recognition motif. At room temperature, however, only a single broad peak near 7.7 ppm was observed in the spectrum (Fig. 4) of a 1:1 mixture of 12(+•) and CBPQT2(+•) in CD3CN, presumably because of a small thermal population of a paramagnetic state at room temperature45,49. Upon cooling to –20 °C, the signals of the complex are individually resolved, yet remain broad until further cooling to –40 °C, at which point all of the resonances of the host–guest complex are displayed (Fig. 4) as sharp signals.

Fig. 4
figure 4

VT-NMR studies of [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•). 1H NMR Spectra recorded from −40 to +25 °C for a 1:1 molar mixture of CBPQT2(+•) and 12(•+) (1.0 mM each) in CD3CN

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Since [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) is the first radical-pairing-based host–guest complex to be characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy, we sought to probe the limits of this technique more deeply for studying supramolecular assemblies featuring radical–radical interactions. Thus, 1H–1H COSY NMR spectra were recorded (Supplementary Figure 6) at –40 °C in order to assign the peaks of the host–guest complex. Noticeably, both signals for the aromatic and CH2 protons on CBPQT2(+•) are shifted significantly to higher field (Fig. 4) as a consequence of the stronger shielding effect of the host–guest interactions compared with that of 12(+•). Resonances for the meta positions of the pyridinium units in 12(+•) and CBPQT2(+•) which were located at 5.22 (peak b in Fig. 4) and 3.28 ppm (peak f in Fig. 4), respectively, are shifted to considerably higher fields than those of the ortho protons of the pyridinium units (7.73 ppm for peak a and 7.34 ppm for peak e in Fig. 4). This observation is in line with the solid-state superstructure (Fig. 6, see below) of the complex [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•), which shows that the BIPY+• units in the radical dimers (BIPY+•)2 are nearly perpendicular to each other, torsion angle 84°, such that the meta CHs of the BIPY+• units in 12(+•) and CBPQT2(+•) are strongly shielded45, while the ortho CHs are not shielded.

CW-EPR spectroscopy experiments were carried out in order to probe the electronic structure of [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•). The EPR spectrum of CBPQT2(+•) (298 K, 0.50 mM, Supplementary Figure 22) displays almost no hyperfine structure. This observation is a characteristic result of the unpaired electrons in the two BIPY+• units being close enough together for electronic overlap such that spin-exchange interactions between them dominate the spectrum39. The EPR (298 K, 0.50 mM, Supplementary Figure 22) spectrum of 12(+•) exhibits, however, hyperfine splitting which resembles that of other N,N′-dialkyl substituted BIPY+• radical cations reported in the literature39,46, since the relatively longer separation distance between two BIPY+• units leads to the absence of efficient overlap for spin-exchange interactions. In comparison, the EPR spectrum (298 K, 0.25 mM each, Supplementary Figure 22) of a 1:1 mixture of 12(+•) and CBPQT2(+•) exhibits relatively minimal hyperfine structure. This implies a disruption of the spin-exchange interactions between the two BIPY+• radicals by an interaction (complexation) between 12(+•) and CBPQT2(+•). Variable-temperature EPR spectra (Fig. 5a) of the 1:1 mixture of 12(+•) and CBPQT2(+•) in MeCN was then measured at temperatures ranging from –20 to 80 °C. The EPR spectra at −20 °C of the 1:1 mixture displays almost no microwave absorption by unpaired radicals. This indicates that there is strong association of the cyclophanes to form the radical-paired ground state of the complex [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•), an observation which is consistent with the VT-NMR results. Upon heating from −20 to 80 °C, the EPR signal of the mixture gradually increased in intensity, along with an increase in the appearance of hyperfine structure. This observation is ascribed to the temperature-induced dissociation of the box-in-box complex into its individual radical cyclophane components.

Fig. 5
figure 5

EPR characterization. a EPR Spectra recorded in 10 degree interval on a 1:1 molar mixture of CBPQT2(+•) and 12(+•) (0.50 mM each) in MeCN. Cyclic voltammograms of b 14+ (0.20 mM), c CBPQT4+ (0.20 mM), and d a 1:1 molar mixture of 14+ and CBPQT4+ (0.20 mM each)

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In order to gain insight into the redox processes involved in the assembly and disassembly of [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•), cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments were performed using ferrocene as the internal redox standard. Both CBPQT·4PF6 and 1·4PF6 (concentration: 0.20 mM in MeCN containing 0.1 M NBu4PF6, scan rate: 0.2 V/s) exhibit (Fig. 5b, c) similar reversible redox waves, though the waves for CBPQT·4PF6 are more positively shifted than those of 1·4PF6, presumably because of its higher ring strain, resulting from the smaller ring size. CVs of an equimolar mixture of CBPQT·4PF6 and 1·4PF6 were also measured (Fig. 5d) at a concentration of 0.20 mM for each box. With a scan rate of 0.2 V/s, the equimolar mixture displays two sharp reversible redox waves, similar to those of the individual boxes, but shifted to more positive potentials. The shifts in the potentials of the redox waves for the mixture of CBPQT·4PF6 and 1·4PF6 can be rationalized by the formation of a tetraradical tetracationic host–guest complex since radical-pairing interactions will lend stability to the radical cationic redox states, as observed previously39,46 for other radical-based host–guest complexes. Furthermore, CV experiments which were carried out at different scan rates show scan rate-dependent CV behavior (Supplementary Figure 14) similar46 to that of the [BIPY ⊂ CBPQT]3(+•) complex.

Solid-state structure of the box-in-box complex

Single crystals of [CBPQT ⊂ 1]•4PF6 were obtained by vapor diffusion of iPr2O at room temperature under an atmosphere of N2 into a solution of an equimolar mixture of 1•4PF6 and CBPQT•4PF6 which had been reduced over Zn dust in MeCN and filtered. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed (Fig. 6, Supplementary Figure 16) a solid-state superstructure in which CBPQT2(+•) is encapsulated inside the cavity of the 12(+•) ring to form a 1:1 host–guest inclusion complex that is consistent with the results found in solution.

Fig. 6
figure 6

Solid-state superstructures of [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•). a Perspective and b plan views depicted as tubular and space-filling representations. c, d Different side-on views, depicted as tubular representations. Hydrogen atoms in c and d are omitted for the sake of clarity

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The CBPQT2(+•) ring in the [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) complex has a larger BIPY+• centroid-to-centroid distance (7.19 Å) than that49 observed (6.92 Å) in the solid-state structure of CBPQT·2PF6. The BIPY+• centroid-to-centroid distance is 13.2 Å for 12(+•) in the [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) complex (Fig. 6c), which is similar to that (13.1 Å) obtained for 1·4PF6. This observation indicates that the CBPQT2(+•) ring has to expand slightly in order to optimize binding of 12(+•) in its cavity.

The torsional angle between BIPY(+•) units of 12(•+) and CBPQT2(+•) is about 84° (Fig. 6d), which is an energetically favorable angle for BIPY•+ radical pimers, according to theoretical predictions48. It is noteworthy that the centroid-to-centroid distance between the adjacent viologen units of 12(+•) and CBPQT2(+•) is only 3.03 Å (Fig. 6a, b), which is shorter than the spacings (3.1–3.3 Å) that are usually observed44,46,47 for viologen radical-pairing interactions. This distance indicates the presence of strong radical-pairing interactions in the solid state, an observation which is consistent with the results of UV–Vis–NIR and 1H NMR spectroscopic investigations in solution.

The extended superstructure reveals (Supplementary Figure 16d) intermolecular co-facial π-stacking between the radical cationic viologen units of 12(+•), which are similar to that observed46,47 in the solid-state superstructure of [BIPY ⊂ CBPQT]3(+•). The centroid-to-centroid separation is 3.48 Å between the co-facially stacked BIPY+• radical cationic subunits of adjacent [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) complexes, a distance that is typical for [π···π] interactions, but longer than those (3.1–3.3 Å) typically observed44,46,47 for BIPY+• radical-pairing. This observation suggests that the strength of radical-pairing interactions between adjacent complexes might be attenuated since all of the single electrons of the BIPY+• units of 12(•+) and CBPQT2(+•) are strongly paired in interactions that are localized within the [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) complex.

Formation of Russian doll assembly

Notably, the solid-state superstructure of the box-in-box complex [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•), confirmed the presence of a void inside of the smaller CBPQT2(+•) cyclophane component that is large enough to potentially accommodate a second guest. We thus sought out guest molecules that could occupy this cavity to form a Russian doll-like assembly. Radical cationic dimethyl viologen (MV+•) was firstly employed as the guest in order to investigate the possibility of forming a pentaradical pentacationic [MV ⊂ CBPQT ⊂ 1]5(+•) complex. Neither UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy nor X-ray crystallography, however, indicated the formation of this three-component assembly. We attribute this observation to the limited space between the p-phenylene and bis(p-phenylene)ethyne spacers of the two cyclophanes in [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•), which might not provide a large enough window for MV+• to thread.

Smaller neutral guest molecules, such as 1,4-dichlorobenzene, were employed in an effort to find guests that could fit into the cavity of the [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) complex. These investigations were facilitated by the ability to observe well-defined 1H NMR spectra of [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) at reduced temperatures, and thus, 1 equiv 1,4-dichlorobenzene was added to a 1.0 mM solution of [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) in CD3CN, and VT 1H NMR spectra were recorded. Upon decreasing the temperature from 25 to −40 °C, the signals (Fig. 7) of a three-component [p-C6H4Cl2 ⊂ CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) complex gradually appeared and sharpened into well-resolved signals. The formation of the three-component complex was evident from the change in the chemical shifts of all the peaks of the two cyclophane components from those that were observed (Fig. 4) for the two component complex [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) in the absence of 1,4-dichlorobenzene. The signals of the BIPY+• units, in particular, were shifted significantly to higher fields. The encapsulating of 1,4-dichlorobenzene was further confirmed by the observation (Fig. 7) of a new singlet resonance for this guest near 4 ppm. All these observations indicated that 1,4-dichlorobenzene was encapsulated by [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) in CD3CN solution, leading to upfield chemical shifts of the signals of the cyclophane components of the complex and to ca. 4 ppm for the 1,4-dichlorobenzene guest that is surrounded on both sides by the CBPQT2(+•) component of the three-component [p-C6H4Cl2 ⊂ CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) complex.

Fig. 7
figure 7

VT-NMR studies of [p-C6H4Cl2 ⊂ CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) 1H NMR Spectra recorded from −40 to +25 °C for a 1:1:1 molar mixture of CBPQT2(+•), 12(+•) and 1,4-dichlorobenzene (1.0 mM each) in CD3CN

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One matter that is worth investigating is whether the inclusion of the third component guest (p-C6H4Cl2) will affect the binding affinity between CBPQT2(+•) and 12(+•). Thus, we repeated the UV–Vis–NIR titration experiments with p-C6H4Cl2 presented in the solution. By titrating CBPQT2(+•) into the solution mixture of 12(+•) and a number of equivalents of p-C6H4Cl2, similar 1:1 fitting isotherms can be applied to the titration data, and “apparent” binding constants were obtained. Notably, the existence of p-C6H4Cl2 guests did, indeed, increase the binding affinity between 12(+•) and CBPQT2(+•); the more equivalents of p-C6H4Cl2 that were added, the more the binding affinity increased. For instance, when 2.0 eq. p-C6H4Cl2 was present, the “apparent” binding constant was found to be (3.8 ± 0.3) × 104 M–1 (Supplementary Figure 11), which is 1.3 times higher than that of the box-in-box complex without p-C6H4Cl2; and when the equivalents of p-C6H4Cl2 were 6.7 and 20, the “apparent” binding constant increased to (6.2 ± 0.7) × 104 M–1 (Supplementary Figure 12) and (9.0 ± 1.2) × 104 M–1 (Supplementary Figure 13), respectively. These results demonstrate that the inclusion of p-C6H4Cl2 within the cavity of [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) can help to stabilize the box-in-box assembled complex and enhance the binding affinity of [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•).

The formation of a three-component inclusion complex was confirmed in the solid-state by single-crystal XRD characterization of the superstructure of [p-C6H4Cl2 ⊂ CBPQT ⊂ 1]•4PF6. Single crystals of this assembly were obtained by slow vapor diffusion of iPr2O into a mixture of 1 equiv of [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) and 4 equiv of 1,4-dichlorobenzene in MeCN. The superstructure shows (Fig. 8 and Supplementary Figure 16) that 1,4-dichlorobenzene molecule is located inside the cavity of the [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) complex to form the desired Russian doll-like [p-C6H4Cl2 ⊂ CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) complex. The co-conformation of the two cyclophane components within the three-component complex remains almost the same (Fig. 6) as in the complex [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) in the absence of an additional guest, with the three-component complex exhibiting a contact distance between BIPY•+ units of 3.05 Å and a torsion angle of 86°. The distance between 1,4-dichlorobenzene and the adjacent BIPY•+ units is 3.55 Å, an observation that indicates the presence of [π···π] interactions between 1,4-dichlorobenzene and CBPQT2(+•). The two Cl atoms of the guest are located at the “windows” between the two cyclophanes and exhibit short Cl···H contact distances (2.97 and 3.03 Å) with the two ortho H-atoms of the bis(phenylene)ethyne units. This observation indicates the existence of weak [C–H···Cl] hydrogen bonds between the diphenylethyne units and dichlorobenzene guest, which providing additional stabilization of the Russian doll assembly. The successful formation of a three-component complex with 1,4-dichlorobenzene prompted us to explore other 1,4-substituted benzene derivatives—namely, 1,4-dibromobenzene, dimethyl terephthalate, 1,4-bis(allyloxy)benzene and bis(propargyl)-terephthalate—as guest molecules to bind inside the [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) complex. All these molecules were found to form Russian doll assemblies (Fig. 8, Supplementary Figure 17-21) in the solid-state that are similar to the three-component complex formed with 1,4-dichlorobenzene. The contact distances between the BIPY+• units of two cyclophane components are nearly identical (3.04–3.05 Å, Fig. 8) for all of the Russian doll assemblies. The torsion angles, however, vary significantly for different guest molecules—86° for 1,4-dichlorobenzene, 78° for 1,4-dibromobenzene, 74° for 1,4-bis(allyloxy)benzene, 70° for 1,4-bis(propargyl)-terephthalate and 66° for dimethyl terephthalate—reflecting the steric influence of the 1,4-substituents on these benzene derivatives. In addition, the accommodation of different guest molecules significantly influences the packing properties (Supplementary Figure 17-21) of the complexes. It is noteworthy that [1,4-bis(allyloxy)benzene ⊂ CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) and [1,4-bis(propargyl)-terephthalate ⊂ CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) are ring-in-ring-type pseudo[3]rotaxanes with vinyl or alkynyl functional groups at the end of the dumbbells, making these assemblies potential precursors for preparing new mechanically interlocked molecules45,50 and redox-controlled molecular machines51.

Fig. 8
figure 8

Solid-state superstructure of Russian doll assemblies with different guests inside the [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) complex. a Structural formulas of the guest molecules. b Perspective views depicted as tubular and space-filling representations. c Side-on views depicted as tubular representations. Hydrogen atoms are omitted for the sake of clarity

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Discussion

As detailed above, we have synthesized a tetracationic cyclophane that was designed to act as a size-complementary host for recognizing the smaller CBPQT4+ cyclophane upon reduction of both cyclophanes to their diradical dicationic states. Radical-pairing interactions between the two cyclophanes drives the formation of a novel tetraradical tetracationic box-in-box complex [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•), which was investigated thoroughly in solution by spectroscopic techniques (UV–Vis–NIR, VT-EPR, VT-1H-NMR) and cyclic voltammetry. An association constant of Ka = (1.6 ± 0.2) × 104 M–1 was determined on the basis of UV–Vis–NIR titration experiments, and EPR measurements confirmed strong radical-pairing between the cyclophanes to produce a diamagnetic assembly. Remarkably, the radical-pairing interactions are strong enough to permit characterization of [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) by 1H NMR spectroscopy—the first time this technique has been used for characterizing a supramolecular assembly held together by radical–radical interactions. Characterization by 1H NMR spectroscopy provided detailed information about the co-conformation of [CBPQT ⊂ 1]4(+•) in solution, which was consistent with the solid-state superstructure that was determined by single-crystal XRD analysis.

The most notable feature of the box-in-box complex is its ability to bind various 1,4-disubstituted benzene derivatives inside the cavity of the smaller cyclophane to form hierarchical Russian doll assemblies, which is quite rare in supramolecular systems. Besides, the inclusion of third component guests within the cavity of the box-in-box complex can help to stabilize the assembled structures. These three-component assemblies were characterized in the solid-state by single-crystal XRD analysis, as well as in solution by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The formation of these hierarchical complexes highlights the box-in-box complex as an attractive motif for forming sophisticated supramolecular assemblies that could be used for designing complicated new mechanically interlocked structures and redox-controllable molecular machines. Thus, this research demonstrates the utility of precisely designing the dimensions of a host for binding a specific guest, such as a smaller cyclophane, that imbues the resulting host–guest complex with appealing properties and functionalities.

Methods

Materials

Solvents used in experiments involving radicals were degassed using the freeze-pump-thaw method. The tetracationic cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) tetrakis(hexafluorophosphate) (CBPQT•4PF6) was prepared according to literature procedures.

Synthesis of 3•2PF6

4,4′-Bipyridine (4.0 g, 25.6 mmol) was dissolved in MeCN (60 mL), and the solution was heated to 90 °C. Compound 2 (1.3 g, 4.12 mmol) was added in three portions within 1 h. The solution was cooled to room temperature after refluxing for 24 h, and then TBACl (2.5 g, 9.0 mmol) was added. The precipitate was collected by filtration, washed twice with MeCN, and then dissolved in H2O. Excess of NH4PF6 was added to the aqueous solution, and the precipitate was collected by filtration and washed successively with H2O, MeOH, and Et2O. After drying in air, 3•2PF6 was obtained as white solid (3.09 g, 93%). 1H NMR (500 MHz, CD3CN) δ 8.47‒8.30, (m, 8 H), 8.32 (d, J = 6.95 Hz, 4 H), 7.79 (d, J = 6.25 Hz, 4 H), 7.65 (d, J = 8.3 Hz, 4 H), 7.50 (d, J = 8.2 Hz). 13C NMR (125 MHz, CD3CN) δ 150.5, 146.0, 134.9, 133.1, 130.0, 128.2, 124.8, 90.6, 65.2.

Synthesis of 1•4PF6

3•2PF6 (806 mg, 1.0 mmol), 2 (380 mg, 1.1 mmol) and TBAI (75 mg, 0.20 mmol) were dissolved in MeCN (600 mL), the solution was then heated to 90 °C and stirred for 5 days. The solution was cooled to room temperature, and TBACl (0.83 g, 3.0 mmol) was added to precipitate the solids. The precipitate was collected by filtration, washed twice with MeCN, and then dissolved in H2O. Excess of NH4PF6 was added to the aqueous solution, the precipitate was collected by filtration and washed successively with H2O and MeOH. The crude product was purified by column chromatography (SiO2: 2% NH4PF6 in Me2CO) to afford 1•4PF6 as a yellow solid (525 mg, 42%). 1H NMR (500 MHz, CD3CN) δ 8.99 (d, J = 7.0 Hz, 4 H), 8.32 (d, J = 7.0 Hz, 8 H), 8.98 (d, J = 7.0 Hz, 8 H), 7.55 (dd, J = 8.1 Hz, 12.6 Hz, 16 H), 5.81 (s, 8 H). 13C NMR (126 MHz, CD3CN) δ 150.5, 146.0, 134.9, 133.1, 130.0, 128.2, 124.8, 90.6, 65.2. (HRMS-ESI). For 1•4PF6, Calcd for C52H40F24N4P4: m/z = 1155.2178 [M–PF6]+, 505.1264 [M–2PF6]2+; found: 1155.2163 [M–PF6]+, 505.1264 [M–2PF6]2+.

UV–Vis-NIR titration

Stock solutions of the fully oxidized viologen derivatives CBPQT•4PF6, 1•4PF6 were prepared in an N2 glovebox. The stock solutions were reduced over activated Zn dust for 10‒15 min with stirring and then filtered to provide deep blue solutions of CBPQT2(+•) or 12(+•). Syringes were employed to measure and dilute the radical stock solutions to the desired concentrations prior to measurements. Spectra were recorded from 1300 to 400 nm in a sealed 2 mm path length cells during titrating CBPQT2(+•) (0 to 10 equiv) into 12(+•). Binding constant was obtained by fitting fit a 1:1 isotherm according to literature47.

EPR measurement

Solutions of CBPQT2(+•) and 12(+•) were prepared in N2 glovebox in the same way as was described for preparing the samples utilized for UV–Vis–NIR measurements. After mixing and/or diluting the radical samples to the desired concentration, 100 μL of each sample was transferred to a quartz EPR tube by syringe. The tubes were sealed with UV-cure resin under an N2 atmosphere.

Cyclic voltammetry measurement

Samples for cyclic voltammetry were prepared using an electrolyte solution of 0.1 M Bu4NPF6 in MeCN that was sparged with Ar to remove O2. The cyclic voltammograms presented in the main text of the manuscript were recorded under Ar or N2 using a glassy carbon working electrode, a Pt wire or Pt mesh counter electrode, a silver wire quasi-reference electrode, and an internal standard of ferrocene.

VT-NMR measurement

The sample solutions were prepared in N2 glovebox with a similar procedure as described for preparing the samples utilized for UV–Vis–NIR measurements. Variable-temperature 1H NMR spectra and low temperature 1H-1H COSY NMR were recorded using an Agilent DD2 spectrometer with a 600 MHz working frequency for 1H nuclei.

Crystallizations and X-ray analyses for all complexes

For 1•4PF6: Single crystals were grown on the bench-top by slow vapor diffusion of iPr2O into a 1.0 mM solution of 1•4PF6 in MeCN over the course of a week. For [CBPQT ⊂ 1]•4PF6 and all the five Russian doll assemblies: Excess of activated Zn dust was added to a mixture of CBPQT•4PF6 (1.1 mg, 1.0 µmol), 1•4PF6 (1.3 mg, 1.0 µmol) together without additional guests ([CBPQT ⊂ 1]•4PF6) or with 4 equiv of the corresponding 1,4-disubstituted benzene derivatives in an N2 glovebox, and the mixtures were stirred for 20 min. After filtering, the purple solutions were kept under an atmosphere of iPr2O at room temperature for a week to allow slow vapor diffusion to occur. The crystals, which appeared in the tubes, were selected and mounted using oil (Infineum V8512) on a glass fiber and transferred to the cold gas stream cooled by liquid N2 on Bruker APEX-II CCDs with MX optics Mo-Kα or Cu-Kα radiation. The structures were solved by direct methods and refined subsequently using OLEX2 software. CCDC 1851540–185146 contain the supplementary crystallographic data for this article. These data can be obtained free of charge from the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre via www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/data_request/cif.