“…In particular, it has apparently been overlooked 33 that, in principle, these architectures can undergo E / Z isomerization through three distinct paths: (1) conformational isomerization via rotation about the covalent bond at the center of the axle, (2) co-conformational “mechanical” isomerization via ring shuttling, and (3) degenerate isomerization (i.e., an automerization reaction) 34 via concerted bond rotation and ring shuttling movements ( Figure 1 C). The presence of mechanistically distinct and entirely different isomerization paths that, in principle, could take place simultaneously represents an extremely rare occurrence in chemistry, seldom experimentally verified in small molecules 35 and metal complexes, 36 , 37 and never described in MIMs. Furthermore, the possibility of a concerted automerization path, which would entail an interplay between the rotational and mechanical shuttling motion, is interesting because geared molecular movements not only represent a fundamental consequence of stereoisomeric transformations 38 but also play a key role in the development of advanced molecular devices and machines.…”