Direct Observation of Hemithioindigo-Motor Unidirectionality

Huber, Ludwig Alexander; Hoffmann, Kerstin; Thumser, Stefan; Böcher, Niklas; Mayer, Peter and Dube, Henry (2017): Direct Observation of Hemithioindigo-Motor Unidirectionality. In: Angewandte Chemie-international Edition, Vol. 56, No. 46: pp. 14536-14539

Abstract

Hemithioindigo molecular motors undergo very fast unidirectional rotation upon irradiation with visible light, which has prevented a complete analysis of their working mechanism. In this work, we have considerably slowed down their motion by using a new synthesis for sterically hindered motor derivatives. This method allowed the first observation of all four intermediate states populated during rotation. The exact order in which each isomeric state is formed under irradiation conditions was elucidated using low temperature H-1 NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with other analytical methods. At the same time, complete unidirectionality could also be directly shown. Access to slowly rotating hemithioindigo motors opens up a plethora of new applications for visible-light-induced unidirectional motions, especially in areas such as catalysis, smart materials, and supramolecular chemistry.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Chemistry and Pharmacy > Department of Chemistry
• Research Centers: Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM)
• Subjects: 500 Science > 540 Chemistry
• ISSN: 1433-7851
• Language: English