Unidirectional rotary motion in achiral molecular motors

Jos C.M. Kistemaker, Peter Štacko, Johan Visser, Ben L. Feringa

Onderzoeksoutput: ArticleAcademicpeer review

Samenvatting

Control of the direction of motion is an essential feature of biological rotary motors and results from the intrinsic chirality of the amino acids from which the motors are made. In synthetic autonomous light-driven rotary motors, point chirality is transferred to helical chirality, and this governs their unidirectional rotation. However, achieving directional rotary motion in an achiral molecular system in an autonomous fashion remains a fundamental challenge. Here, we report an achiral molecular motor in which the presence of a pseudo-asymmetric carbon atom proved to be sufficient for exclusive autonomous disrotary motion of two appended rotor moieties. Isomerization around the two double bonds enables both rotors to move in the same direction with respect to their surroundings - like wheels on an axle - demonstrating that autonomous unidirectional rotary motion can be achieved in a symmetric system.
Originele taal-2English
Pagina's (van-tot)890 - 896
Aantal pagina's7
TijdschriftNature Chemistry
Volume7
Nummer van het tijdschrift11
DOI's
StatusPublished - 12 okt. 2015
Extern gepubliceerdJa

Keywords

  • unidirectionele draaibeweging
  • achirale moleculaire motoren

Vingerafdruk

Duik in de onderzoeksthema's van 'Unidirectional rotary motion in achiral molecular motors'. Samen vormen ze een unieke vingerafdruk.

Citeer dit