A reversible synthetic rotary molecular motor.
The circumrotation of a submolecular fragment in either direction in a synthetic molecular structure is described. The movement of a small ring around a larger one occurs through positional displacements arising from biased Brownian motion that are kinetically captured and then directionally released. The sense of rotation is governed solely by the order in which a series of orthogonal chemical transformations is performed. The minimalist nature of the [2]catenane flashing ratchet design permits certain mechanistic comparisons with the Smoluchowski-Feynman ratchet and pawl. Even when no work has to be done against an opposing force and no net energy is used to power the motion, a finite conversion of energy is intrinsically required for the molecular motor to undergo directional rotation. Nondirectional rotation has no such requirement.
Hernández
José V
JV
School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JJ, UK.
Kay
Euan R
ER
Leigh
David A
DA
D001665:Binding Sites; D043863:Catenanes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D007536:Isomerism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008956:Models, Chemical; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009038:Motion; D012399:Rotation; D013816:Thermodynamics
D043863:Catenanes; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins