Chemically fuelled autonomous directional linear motion at the molecular level

分子水平上的化学燃料自主定向线性运动

• 批准号: 2266744
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Bristol
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2019 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2266744
• 关键词: Chemically; fuelled; autonomous; directional; linear

Autonomous, chemically fuelled directional motion underpins the function of many of nature's magnificent biological motor proteins. Mimicking or replicating such behaviour in small molecule systems is a hugely exciting challenge. Rotaxanes, comprising a macrocycle encircling a molecular thread, have been used extensively to study the directional linear motion of one molecular component with respect to another. With some notable exceptions, motion in these systems is generally controlled through "intelligent input", where the experimentalist changes the relative binding affinities of the macrocycle towards specific sites on the molecular thread through the addition of additives such as acid or metal ions. Conversely, in this research programme, we will design and develop a rotaxane-based system which operates autonomously. The macrocycle is associated with a transition metal and catalyses the introduction of kinetic barriers (functionalisations) along the molecular thread, in a sequential fashion, inhibiting movement in the "backwards" direction. The directional motion occurs autonomously: provided the macrocycle catalyst turns over with each functionalisation, the system requires no external input other than a constant supply of chemical fuel.

自主的，化学燃料定向运动支撑着许多自然界宏伟的生物马达蛋白的功能。在小分子系统中模仿或复制这种行为是一个非常令人兴奋的挑战。轮烷，包括一个大环环绕的分子线程，已被广泛用于研究定向线性运动的一个分子组分相对于另一个。除了一些显著的例外，这些系统中的运动通常通过“智能输入”来控制，其中实验者通过添加添加剂如酸或金属离子来改变大环对分子线上特定位点的相对结合亲和力。相反，在这项研究计划中，我们将设计和开发一个基于轮烷的系统，它可以自动运行。大环化合物与过渡金属结合，并催化以顺序方式沿分子线沿着引入动力学屏障（官能化），抑制“向后”方向的运动。定向运动自动发生：只要大环催化剂在每次功能化时翻转，系统除了持续供应化学燃料外不需要外部输入。