Two novel crown ethers incorporating the acridinone and the 9-phenyl-9-methoxy-acridane unit were used to form pseudorotaxanes with the 1,2-bis(4,4'dipyridinium)ethane axle, which are stoppered by the alkylative method to form rotaxanes. The pseudorotaxane formed from the acridane-containing crown was photochemically converted to the corresponding acridinium methoxide thereby releasing the guest. The acridane-containing rotaxane could not be isolated because the preparation conditions formed the acridinium salt. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.