Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
144(37), P. 17241 - 17248
Published: Sept. 8, 2022
Autonomous
chemically
fueled
molecular
machines
that
function
through
information
ratchet
mechanisms
underpin
the
nonequilibrium
processes
sustain
life.
These
biomolecular
motors
have
evolved
to
be
well-suited
tasks
they
perform.
Synthetic
systems
similar
recently
been
developed,
and
their
minimalist
structures
enable
influence
of
structural
changes
on
machine
performance
assessed.
Here,
we
probe
effect
in
fuel
barrier-forming
species
operation
a
carbodiimide-fueled
rotaxane-based
ratchet.
We
examine
machine's
ability
catalyze
fuel-to-waste
reaction
harness
energy
from
it
drive
directional
displacement
macrocycle.
characteristics
are
intrinsically
linked
speed,
force,
power,
efficiency
output.
find
that,
just
as
for
macroscopic
machinery,
optimization
one
feature
(such
speed)
can
compromise
other
features
force
generated
by
ratchet).
Balancing
efficiency,
directionality
will
likely
prove
important
when
developing
artificial
particular
applications.
Nature,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
613(7943), P. 280 - 286
Published: Jan. 11, 2023
Macroscopic
electric
motors
continue
to
have
a
large
impact
on
almost
every
aspect
of
modern
society.
Consequently,
the
effort
towards
developing
molecular
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
145(26), P. 14169 - 14183
Published: June 21, 2023
All
chemists
are
familiar
with
the
idea
that,
at
equilibrium
steady
state,
relative
concentrations
of
species
present
in
a
system
predicted
by
corresponding
constants,
which
related
to
free
energy
differences
between
components.
There
is
also
no
net
flux
species,
matter
how
complicated
reaction
network.
Achieving
and
harnessing
non-equilibrium
states,
coupling
network
second
spontaneous
chemical
process,
has
been
subject
work
several
disciplines,
including
operation
molecular
motors,
assembly
supramolecular
materials,
strategies
enantioselective
catalysis.
We
juxtapose
these
linked
fields
highlight
their
common
features
challenges
as
well
some
misconceptions
that
may
be
serving
stymie
progress.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
63(23)
Published: April 3, 2024
Abstract
Over
the
last
two
decades
ratchet
mechanisms
have
transformed
understanding
and
design
of
stochastic
molecular
systems—biological,
chemical
physical—in
a
move
away
from
mechanical
macroscopic
analogies
that
dominated
thinking
regarding
dynamics
in
1990s
early
2000s
(e.g.
pistons,
springs,
etc),
to
more
scale‐relevant
concepts
underpin
out‐of‐equilibrium
research
sciences
today.
Ratcheting
has
established
nanotechnology
as
frontier
for
energy
transduction
metabolism,
enabled
reverse
engineering
biomolecular
machinery,
delivering
insights
into
how
molecules
‘walk’
track‐based
synthesisers
operate,
acceleration
reactions
enables
be
transduced
by
catalysts
(both
motor
proteins
synthetic
catalysts),
dynamic
systems
can
driven
equilibrium
through
catalysis.
The
recognition
biology,
their
invention
systems,
is
proving
significant
areas
diverse
supramolecular
chemistry,
covalent
DNA
nanotechnology,
polymer
materials
science,
heterogeneous
catalysis,
endergonic
synthesis,
origin
life,
many
other
branches
science.
Put
simply,
give
chemistry
direction.
Kinetic
asymmetry,
key
feature
ratcheting,
counterpart
structural
asymmetry
(i.e.
chirality).
Given
ubiquity
processes
significance
behaviour
function
it
surely
just
fundamentally
important.
This
Review
charts
recognition,
development
ratchets,
focussing
particularly
on
role
which
they
were
originally
envisaged
elements
machinery.
Different
kinetically
asymmetric
are
compared,
consequences
discussed.
These
archetypal
examples
demonstrate
inexorably
equilibrium,
rather
than
relax
towards
it.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
63(9)
Published: Jan. 18, 2024
Abstract
Scientists
have
long
been
fascinated
by
the
biomolecular
machines
in
living
systems
that
process
energy
and
information
to
sustain
life.
The
first
synthetic
molecular
rotor
capable
of
performing
repeated
360°
rotations
due
a
combination
photo‐
thermally
activated
processes
was
reported
1999.
progress
designing
different
intervening
years
has
remarkable,
with
several
outstanding
examples
appearing
last
few
years.
Despite
accomplishments,
there
remains
confusion
regarding
fundamental
design
principles
which
motions
molecules
can
be
controlled,
significant
intellectual
tension
between
mechanical
chemical
ways
thinking
about
describing
machines.
A
thermodynamically
consistent
analysis
kinetics
rotors
pumps
shows
while
light
driven
operate
power‐stroke
mechanism,
kinetic
asymmetry—the
relative
heights
barriers—is
sole
determinant
directionality
catalysis
Power‐strokes—the
depths
wells—play
no
role
whatsoever
determining
sign
directionality.
These
results,
elaborated
using
trajectory
thermodynamics
nonequilibrium
pump
equality,
show
asymmetry
governs
response
many
non‐equilibrium
phenomena.
Nature,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
637(8046), P. 594 - 600
Published: Jan. 15, 2025
Abstract
Cells
display
a
range
of
mechanical
activities
generated
by
motor
proteins
powered
through
catalysis
1
.
This
raises
the
fundamental
question
how
acceleration
chemical
reaction
can
enable
energy
released
from
that
to
be
transduced
(and,
consequently,
work
done)
molecular
catalyst
2–7
Here
we
demonstrate
molecular-level
transduction
force
8
in
form
contraction
and
re-expansion
cross-linked
polymer
gel
driven
directional
rotation
artificial
catalysis-driven
9
motors.
Continuous
360°
rotor
about
stator
motor-molecules
incorporated
polymeric
framework
twists
chains
network
around
one
another.
progressively
increases
writhe
tightens
entanglements,
causing
macroscopic
approximately
70%
its
original
volume.
The
subsequent
addition
opposite
enantiomer
fuelling
system
powers
reverse
direction,
unwinding
entanglements
re-expand.
Continued
twisting
strands
new
direction
causes
re-contract.
In
actuation,
motor-molecule
produces
other
physical
outcomes,
including
changes
Young
modulus
storage
modulus—the
latter
is
proportional
increase
strand
crossings
resulting
rotation.
experimental
demonstration
against
load
synthetic
organocatalyst,
mechanism
6
,
informs
both
debate
3,5,7
surrounding
generation
biological
motors
design
principles
6,10–14
for
nanotechnology.
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
144(44), P. 20153 - 20164
Published: Oct. 26, 2022
Chemically
fueled
autonomous
molecular
machines
are
catalysis-driven
systems
governed
by
Brownian
information
ratchet
mechanisms.
One
fundamental
principle
behind
their
operation
is
kinetic
asymmetry,
which
quantifies
the
directionality
of
motors.
However,
it
difficult
for
synthetic
chemists
to
apply
this
concept
design
because
asymmetry
usually
introduced
in
abstract
mathematical
terms
involving
experimentally
inaccessible
parameters.
Furthermore,
two
seemingly
contradictory
mechanisms
have
been
proposed
chemically
driven
machines:
and
power
stroke
This
Perspective
addresses
both
these
issues,
providing
accessible
useful
principles
machinery.
We
relate
Curtin–Hammett
using
a
rotary
motor
kinesin
walker
as
illustrative
examples.
Our
approach
describes
motors
mechanism
but
pinpoints
chemical
gating
strokes
tunable
elements
that
can
affect
asymmetry.
explain
why
consistent
with
previous
ones
outline
conditions
where
be
elements.
Finally,
we
discuss
role
information,
used
different
meanings
literature.
hope
will
broad
range
chemists,
clarifying
parameters
usefully
controlled
synthesis
related
systems.
It
may
also
aid
more
comprehensive
interdisciplinary
understanding
biomolecular
Angewandte Chemie International Edition,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
61(40)
Published: July 19, 2022
Molecular
machines
are
at
the
frontier
of
biology
and
chemistry.
The
ability
to
control
molecular
motion
emulating
movement
biological
systems
major
steps
towards
development
responsive
adaptive
materials.
Amazing
progress
has
been
seen
for
design
including
light-induced
unidirectional
rotation
overcrowded
alkenes.
However,
feasibility
inducing
about
a
single
bond
as
result
chemical
conversion
challenging
task.
In
this
Review,
an
overview
approaches
design,
synthesis,
dynamic
properties
different
classes
atropisomers
which
can
undergo
controlled
switching
or
under
influence
stimulus
is
presented.
They
categorized
switches,
rotors,
motors,
autonomous
motors
according
their
type
response.
Furthermore,
we
provide
future
perspective
challenges
focusing
on
building
sophisticated
machines.
Accounts of Chemical Research,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
56(7), P. 889 - 899
Published: March 14, 2023
ConspectusThe
achievement
of
artificial
systems
capable
being
maintained
in
out-of-equilibrium
states
featuring
functional
properties
is
a
main
goal
current
chemical
research.
Absorption
electromagnetic
radiation
or
consumption
species
(a
"chemical
fuel")
are
the
two
strategies
typically
employed
to
reach
such
states,
which
have
persist
as
long
one
above
stimuli
present.
For
this
reason
often
referred
"dissipative
systems".
In
simplest
scheme,
dissipative
system
initially
found
resting,
equilibrium
state.
The
addition
fuel
causes
shift
an
When
exhausted,
reverts
initial,
Thus,
from
mechanistic
standpoint,
turns
out
be
catalyst
for
consumption.
It
has
noted
that,
although
very
simple,
scheme
implies
chance
temporally
control
system.
principle,
modulating
nature
and/or
amount
added,
can
full
time
spent
by
state.In
2016,
we
that
2-cyano-2-phenylpropanoic
acid
(1a),
whose
decarboxylation
proceeds
smoothly
under
mild
basic
conditions,
could
used
drive
back
and
forth
motion
catenane-based
molecular
switch.
donates
proton
catenane
passes
neutral
state
A
transient
protonated
B.
Decarboxylation
resulting
carboxylate
(1acb),
generates
carbanion,
which,
strong
base,
retakes
consequently,
returns
initial
A.
larger
added
fuel,
longer
transient,
Since
then,
1a
other
activated
carboxylic
acids
(ACAs)
been
operation
large
number
based
on
acid-base
reaction,
machines
host-guest
systems,
catalysts
smart
materials,
so
on.
This
Account
illustrates
with
purpose
show
wide
applicability
ACAs
fuels.
generality
due
simplicity
idea
underlying
principle
ACAs,
always
translates
into
simple
experimental
requirements.