We report a new route for the selective synthesis of di- and tetrafunctionalized pillararenes via oxidation and reduction of the pillararene units. Hypervalent-iodine oxidation of perethylated pillar[5]arene afforded pillar[5]arene derivatives containing one benzoquinone unit and two benzoquinones at the A,B- and A,C-units. A pillar[6]arene derivative containing one benzoquinone unit was also synthesized. Reduction of the benzoquinone units yielded position-selective di- and tetrahydroxylated pillararene derivatives. This methodology avoids the generation of many constitutional isomers and overcomes the isolation problem of numerous constitutional isomers. From these hydroxylated pillararenes, Huisgen reaction-based clickable di- and tetraalkynylated pillar[5]arenes were prepared. Because of the highly selective and reactive nature of Huisgen alkyne-azide cycloaddition, these pillar[5]arenes can serve as key compounds for a large library of di- and tetrafunctionalized pillararenes. Based on these di- and tetrafunctionalized pillar[5]arenes as key compounds, fluorescent sensors were created by the modification of di- and tetrapyrene moieties via Huisgen-type click reactions.

A one-pot synthesis of pillar[5]arene-based [2]rotaxanes containing one and two stations by copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction is reported. In situ formation of the two stations by two stepwise CuAAC reactions allows for the synthesis of a [2]rotaxane containing two stations with equal energy levels that exhibit shuttling of the pillar[5]arene wheel.

For a series of neutral [2]rotaxanes consisting of a pillar[5]arene ring and axles possessing two stations separated by flexible spacers of different lengths, the free energies of activation for the ring shuttling between the stations were found to be independent of the spacer length. The constitution of the spacer affects the activation energies: replacement of CH2 groups by repulsive oxygen atoms in the axle increases the barrier. The explanation for the observed length‐independence lies in the presence of a barrier for re‐forming the stable co‐conformation, which makes the ring travel back and forth along the thread in an intermediate state.

A molecular shuttle comprising a pillar[6]arene macrocyclic ring and an axle with two equal-energy-level stations connected by an azobenzene unit was synthesised. The E isomer of the azobenzene functioned as...

[2]Rotaxanes with two identical binding sites exhibit shuttling of the ring component between the two stations. For a series of neutral [2]rotaxanes consisting of a pillar[5]arene ring and axles possessing two stations separated by flexible spacers of different lengths, the ring shuttling between the stations was found to be independent of the spacer length. More information can be found in the Communication by T. Ogoshi and A. M. Brouwer et al. on page 6325.