A three-compartment chemically-driven molecular information ratchet.

We describe a three-compartment rotaxane information ratchet in which the macrocycle can be directionally transported in either direction along an achiral (disregarding isotopic labeling) track. Chiral DMAP-based catalysts promote a benzoylation reaction that ratchets the displacement of the macrocycle, transporting it predominantly to a particular end compartment determined by the handedness of the catalyst.