Chiroptical switching in the azobenzene‐based self‐locked [1]rotaxane by solvent and photoirradiation.

Because of its dynamic reversible nature and simple regulation properties, rotaxane systems provided a good route for the construction of responsive supramolecular chiral materials. Here, we covalently encapsulate the photo‐responsive guest molecule azobenzene (Azo) in a chiral macrocycle β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) to prepare self‐locked chiral [1]rotaxane [Azo‐CD]. On this basis, the self‐adaptive conformation of [Azo‐CD] was manipulated by solvent and photoirradiation; meanwhile, dual orthogonal regulation of the [1]rotaxane chiroptical switching could also be realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]