Photoinduced Memory Effect in a Redox Controllable Bistable Mechanical Molecular Switch

Herein, we discuss the performance of a molecular switch in the form of a bistable [2]rotaxane, which 1) undergoes relative mechanical movements of its ring and dumbbell components under redox control and thus can be switched between two states thermodynamically, and wherein 2) the energy barriers between these two states can be controlled kinetically by photochemical means.