Redox‐Driven Logic Gates Based on Intramolecular Weak Interactions in Pyridyl‐Containing Diarylnitroxides

Abstract A new stable diarylnitroxide with two 2‐pyridyl groups in the ortho‐positions of the phenyl rings, in the close vicinity to the NO fragment, was obtained. Conformational flexibility of the molecule provides stimuli‐responsive reversible on/off switching of the intramolecular interactions, stabilizing the oxidized and reduced states of the nitroxide (due to the n‐π* interaction and the intramolecular H‐bonding, respectively) and giving rise to novel properties. The intrinsic electrofluorochromism of the oxoammonium cation rigidified by the intramolecular N−O bond between the pyridyl lone pair and the O atom was first disclosed. Structural simplicity and facile synthesis of the diarylnitroxide make it promising for creating novel types of redox‐switchable molecular logic gates.