A light-controlled molecular machine based on cyclic azobenzenophanes consisting of a dioxynaphthalene rotating unit and a photoisomerizable dioxyazobenzene unit bridged by methylene spacers is reported. In compounds 1 and 2, 1,5- and 2,6-dioxynaphthalene moieties, respectively, are linked to p-dioxyazobenzene by different methylene spacers (n=2 in 1a and 2; n=3 in 1b), whereas a 1,5-dioxynaphthalene moiety is bonded to m-dioxyazobenzene by bismethylene spacers in 3. In 1b and 2, the naphthalene ring can rotate freely in both the trans and cis states at room temperature. The rotation speed can be controlled either by photoinduced reversible trans-cis (E-Z) isomerization of the azobenzene or by keeping the system at low temperature, as is evident from its NMR spectra. Furthermore, for the first time, we demonstrate a light-controlled molecular brake, wherein the rotation of the naphthalene moiety through the cyclophane is completely OFF in the trans isomer of compound 3 due to its smaller cavity size. Such restricted rotation imparts planar chirality to the molecule, and the corresponding enantiomers could be resolved by chiral HPLC. However, the rotation of the naphthalene moiety is rendered ON in the cis isomer due to its increased cavity size, and it is manifested experimentally by the racemization of the separated enantiomers by photoinduced E-Z isomerization.

We present the hydrothermal synthesis, characterization (IR, DT-TGA), single-crystal structures, and magnetic properties of two polymorphs of trans-3(3-pyridyl)acrylate of cobalt(II) and of nickel(II), M(II)(C(8)H(6)NO(2))(2)(H(2)O)(2). Hydrothermal reaction at 120 or 170 degrees C results exclusively in the different polymorphs. The infrared spectra and thermogravimetric analyses of the complexes are almost similar for the two polymorphs but show a difference between cobalt and nickel in energies of the vibrational modes and in the decomposition temperatures. The crystal structures of the two polymorphs are quite different; one crystallizes in a monoclinic space group and the other in a triclinic. This major difference is due to the different stereochemistry, cis or trans, of the coordination at the metal sites. When it is trans-MN(2)O(4), it results in the monoclinic cell consisting of a 3D-network of metals bridged by the ligands through single bonds (M-N and M-O). There is threading of three sublattices up to 2a x 4b x 2c, at which point the three sublattices are knotted into one infinite framework. When it is cis-MN(2)O(4), it results in the triclinic cell and consists of Zwitterionic linear chains of metals bridged by one single ligand via the pyridine and a bidentate carboxylate group and the other ligand is bonded only via the pyridine while its carboxylate end is free. All four compounds are paramagnetic with Weiss constants suggesting weak interactions.