Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Rotaxane

A rotaxane is a molecular structure in two parts which do not chemically interact: a ring, and an axis with end bumps which prevent the ring from leaving the axis.

" class="external">http://website.lineone.net/~matthew.carroll/research/crest/rotaxane.gif

Rotaxanes, like catenanes, are of interest for their potential role in the future of molecular electronics as logic switching elements.