Braking of a Light‐Driven Molecular Rotary Motor by Chemical Stimuli

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 81 - 84
• Main Authors: van Leeuwen, Thomas, Danowski, Wojciech, Pizzolato, Stefano F., Štacko, Peter, Wezenberg, Sander J., Feringa, Ben L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: WEINHEIM Wiley 02.01.2018; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: alkenes; biaryl compounds; Braking; Chemical stimuli; Chemistry; Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Machinery and equipment; Molecular machines; Molecular motors; non-covalent interactions; photochromism; Physical Sciences; Science & Technology; Spectroscopy; Substrates; Ultraviolet spectroscopy; non-covalent interactions; photochromism; alkenes; molecular motors; TRACK; MACHINES; AXIAL CHIRALITY INDUCTION; TRANSPORT; ROTOR; MOTION; CONTRACTION; biaryl compounds; PHOTOPHARMACOLOGY
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.201704747

Artificial molecular motors hold great promise for application in responsive functional materials as well as to control the properties of biohybrid systems. Herein a strategy is reported to modulate the rotation of light‐driven molecular motors. That is, the rotary speed of a molecular motor, functionalized with a biphenol moiety, could be decreased in situ by non‐covalent substrate binding, as was established by 1H NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. These findings constitute an important step in the development of multi‐responsive molecular machinery. The rotation of a light‐driven molecular motor can be controlled reversibly by supramolecular binding of a diamine guest to a biphenol moiety.