Stimuli‐Responsive Topological Transformation of a Molecular Borromean Ring via Controlled Oxidation of Thioether Moieties

Abstract A Cp*‐Rh based D‐shaped binuclear metallacycle and a template‐free molecular Borromean ring ( BR ) were obtained in high yield using the semi‐rigid thioether dipyridyl ligand 1,4‐bis[(pyridin‐4‐ylthio)methyl]benzene ( Bptmb ). The topological transformation from a binuclear metallacycle and a BR to tetranuclear metallacycles was realized via the controlled oxidation of thioethers. The strategy used in this work can be regarded as a new form of stimuli‐responsive post‐synthesis modification ( PSM ).