title: Efficient assembly of threaded molecular machines for sequence-specific synthesis.
abstract: We report on an improved strategy for the preparation of artificial molecular machines that can pick up and assemble reactive groups in sequence by traveling along a track. In the new approach a preformed rotaxane synthon is attached to the end of an otherwise fully formed strand of building blocks. This "rotaxane-capping" protocol is significantly more efficient than the "final-step-threading" method employed previously and enables the synthesis of threaded molecular machines that operate on extended oligomer, and potentially polymer, tracks. The methodology is exemplified through the preparation of a machine that adds four amino acid building blocks from a strand in sequence, featuring up to 20-membered ring native chemical ligation transition states.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Manchester , Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Bo
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuschel
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Leigh
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lewandowski
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papmeyer
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D010449:Peptide Mapping; D043862:Rotaxanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D043862:Rotaxanes