Enzymatic Synthesis and Photoswitchable Enzymatic Cleavage of a Peptide‐Linked Rotaxane

Selective digestion: α-Chymotrypsin was used to synthesize a cyclodextrin azo dye rotaxane and to digest it back to its components. E→Z photoisomerization of the rotaxane completely changes its affinity for the enzyme. The presence of the cyclodextrin accelerates digestion of the E isomer and prevents that of the Z isomer.