Conformational control of molecular tweezers containing a disulfide bond by redox reactions

Molecular tweezers 1b having two alkyl thiol chains were prepared. Intramolecular cyclization of the thiols under oxidative conditions afforded tweezers 2b containing a disulfide bond. X-ray crystal analysis and temperature dependent 1H NMR spectra analysis revealed that the structure of 1b has a stepped anti arrangement of the three aromatic rings, although that of 2b adopted a cleft conformation because of the intramolecular interaction between the alkyl chain and the terminal naphthalene rings. The thiol–disulfide redox reaction proceeded smoothly and reversibly to control the conformation of the tweezers.