A Quaterthiophene-Based Rotaxane: Synthesis, Spectroscopy, and Self-Assembly at Surfaces

Threaded molecular wires are shown to feature tunable properties. A new rotaxane based on a quaterthiophene threaded through a single β-cyclodextrin exhibits delocalization of the aromatic system that is also extended onto the central phenyl rings of the m-terphenylene end-groups. The rotaxane can undergo self-assembly that is better than the analogous bithiophene derivative, due to the increased π-π interactions. © 2012 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.