A chemically powered unidirectional rotary molecular motor based on a palladium redox cycle
In Nature Chemistry of 8 June 2016 the research group of Ben Feringa presents the design of an organopalladium-based motor and the experimental demonstration of a 360° unidirectional rotary cycle using simple chemical fuels. Exploiting fundamental reactivity principles in organometallic chemistry enables control of directional rotation and offers the potential of harnessing the wealth of opportunities offered by transition-metal-based catalytic conversions to drive motion and dynamic functions.
The conversion of chemical energy to drive directional motion at the molecular level allows biological systems, ranging from subcellular components to whole organisms, to perform a myriad of dynamic functions and respond to changes in the environment. Directional movement has been demonstrated in artificial molecular systems, but the fundamental motif of unidirectional rotary motion along a single-bond rotary axle induced by metal-catalysed transformation of chemical fuels has not been realized, and the challenge is to couple the metal-centred redox processes to stepwise changes in conformation to arrive at a full unidirectional rotary cycle.
a, Blueprint for a 360° unidirectional rotary molecular motor. The upper aryl ring (the ‘rotor’, blue) rotates through 360° in a clockwise sense with respect to the lower aryl ring (the ‘stator’, red). Unidirectional rotation is governed by selective binding of a metal centre and the formation of diastereomeric metal complexes. b, Proposed realization of this system through the combination of biaryl sulfoxide 1 featuring axial and central chirality and a simple palladium salt allowing shuttling between Pd(0) and Pd(II) redox states.
The upper aryl ring (the ‘rotor’, blue) rotates through 360° in a clockwise sense with respect to the lower aryl ring (the ‘stator’, red). Four key steps mediate the rotation: (i) C–H activation; (ii) reintroduction of the C–H bond; (iii) oxidative addition; and (iv) reintroduction of the C–Br bond.
Reference: Beatrice S. L. Collins, Jos C. M. Kistemaker, Edwin Otten & Ben L. Feringa, A chemically powered unidirectional rotary molecular motor based on a palladium redox cycle. Nature Chemistry, 6 June 2016, DOI 10.1038/nchem.2543
Text: Nature.com
Last modified: | 13 October 2022 08.48 a.m. |
More news
-
16 April 2024
UG signs Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information
In a significant stride toward advancing responsible research assessment and open science, the University of Groningen has officially signed the Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information.
-
15 April 2024
Single-molecule engineering niche in Gravitation research
With her expertise in single-molecule techniques, Dr. Kasia Tych (GBB) will contribute to a big Grvitation-research programme
-
15 April 2024
Night vision with artificial atoms
Every two weeks, UG Makers puts the spotlight on a researcher who has created something tangible, ranging from homemade measuring equipment for academic research to small or larger products that can change our daily lives. That is how UG...