Energetically Demanding transport in a Supramolecular Assembly
Chuyang Cheng, Paul R. McGonigal, Wei-Guang Liu, Hao Li, Nicolaas A. Vermeulen, Chenfeng Ke, Marco Frasconi, Charlotte L. Stern, William A. Goddard III, J. Fraser Stoddart
Abstract
A challenge in contemporary chemistry is the realization of artificial molecular machines that can perform work in solution on their environments. Here, we report on the design and production of a supramolecular flashing energy ratchet capable of processing chemical fuel generated by redox changes to drive a ring in one direction relative to a dumbbell toward an energetically uphill state. The kinetics of the reaction pathway juxtapose a low energy [2]pseudorotaxane that forms under equilibrium conditions with a high energy, metastable [2]pseudorotaxane which resides away from equilibrium.
Cheng, C., McGonigal, P. R., Liu, W., Li, H., Vermeulen, N. A., Ke, C., Frasconi, M., Stern, C. L., III, W. A. G., & Stoddart, J. F. (2014). Energetically Demanding transport in a Supramolecular Assembly. *J. Am. Chem. Soc.*, *136*(42), 14702-14705. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja508615f