Directionality Reversal and Shift of Rotational Axis in a Hemithioindigo Macrocyclic Molecular Motor
Reißenweber L, Uhl E, Hampel F, Mayer P, Dube H (2024)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2024
Journal
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c06377
Abstract
Molecular motors are central driving units for nanomachinery, and control of their directional motions is of fundamental importance for their functions. Light-driven variants use easy to provide, easy to dose, and waste-free fuel with high energy content, making them particularly interesting for applications. Typically, light-driven molecular motors work via rotations around dedicated chemical bonds where the directionality of the rotation is dictated by the steric effects of asymmetry in close vicinity to the rotation axis. In this work, we show how unidirectional rotation around a virtual axis can be realized by reprogramming a molecular motor. To this end, a classical light-driven motor is restricted by macrocyclization, and its intrinsic directional rotation is transformed into a directional rotation of the macrocyclic chain in the opposite direction. Further, solvent polarity changes allow to toggle the function of this molecular machine between a directional motor and a nondirectional photoswitch. In this way, a new concept for the design of molecular motors is delivered together with elaborate control over their motions and functions by simple solvent changes. The possibility of sensing the environmental polarity and correspondingly adjusting the directionality of motions opens up a next level of control and responsiveness to light-driven nanoscopic motors.
Authors with CRIS profile
Lilli Reißenweber
Lehrstuhl für Organische Chemie I
Frank Hampel
Lehrstuhl für Organische Chemie I
Henry Dube
Lehrstuhl für Organische Chemie I
Involved external institutions
Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Reißenweber, L., Uhl, E., Hampel, F., Mayer, P., & Dube, H. (2024). Directionality Reversal and Shift of Rotational Axis in a Hemithioindigo Macrocyclic Molecular Motor. Journal of the American Chemical Society. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c06377
MLA:
Reißenweber, Lilli, et al. "Directionality Reversal and Shift of Rotational Axis in a Hemithioindigo Macrocyclic Molecular Motor." Journal of the American Chemical Society (2024).
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