A novel pentiptycene bis(crown ether)-based [2](2)rotaxane whose two DB24C8 rings act as flapping wings of a butterfly.

A novel [2](2)rotaxane based on pentiptycene-derived bis(crown ether) can be efficiently synthesized via a "click chemistry" method and the subsequent N-methylation. Due to the different affinities of DB24C8 with the ammonium and triazolium stations, the wing-flapping movement of the DB24C8 "wings" in the [2](2)rotaxane can be easily achieved by acid/base stimulus.