金屬離子與分子籠鍵結所產生的模板效應可順利引導兩種不同的兩個客體分子(蒽醌及方酸衍生物)進入分子籠的中心空腔而形成準車輪烷類錯合物,有趣的是在Li+、Na+、K+、Cs+等鹼金屬中,僅有鈉離子具有如此的模板效應。由於此超分子系統在進行錯合與解離的過程中可產生明顯的顏色或螢光變化,因此或有成為具光學輸出之分子開關的潛力。
A molecular cage forms pseudorotaxane-like complexes with threaded anthraquinone and squaraine units in the presence of templating alkali metal ions, with high selectively for Na+ ions. This ion-specific templating effect was easy to monitor because the complexation and decomplexation of the pseudorotaxane complexes in solution occurred with significant color changes that were detectable to the naked eye.