Noun
rotaxane (plural rotaxanes)
(chemistry) A complex of two molecules, one ring-shaped and the other dumbbell-shaped, with the dumbbell threaded through the ring and having end groups too large to pass through the ring.
These could then be used as single-molecule components in a nanoelectronic device. citation For an example see rotaxane. Source: Internet
By cooling the dynamic complex, it becomes kinetically trapped as a rotaxane at the lower temperature. Source: Internet
However, examples of rotaxane substructure have been found in naturally occurring peptides, including: cystine knot peptides, cyclotides or lasso-peptides such as microcin J25. Source: Internet
Controlling the position of the macrocycle allows the rotaxane to function as molecular switch with each possible location of the macrocycle corresponding to a different state. Source: Internet
The partial macrocycle then undergoes a ring closing reaction around the dumbbell-shaped molecule, forming the rotaxane. Source: Internet
Nomenclature Accepted nomenclature is to designate the number of components of the rotaxane in brackets as a prefix. Source: Internet