Electron Transfer from Wheel to Axle in a Rotaxane. A Mass Spectrometric Investigation

The synthesis and characterization of a new non-symmetrical [2]rotaxane featuring an anthracenebased wheel and an alkylviologen-based axle are reported. The interlocked nature of the isolated adduct is demonstrated through collision-induced decay experiments that were also extended to related model compounds. The observed electron transfer from the wheel to the axle and the fragmentation patterns are discussed.