Development of Molecular Machine System Switched by Redox Stimulation

对苯二酚和对苯二酚是活细胞中普遍存在的成分，在活细胞的电子传递链中起着关键作用。基于对苯二酚(氢键受体)和对苯二酚(氢键供体)氢键网络的不同，我们计划开发一种新的分子机器，其构象可以通过氧化还原电位的刺激来改变。我们设计并合成了几种在2-位具有酰胺侧链的对苯二酚/对苯二酚。研究表明，在氧化还原条件下，对苯二酚和对苯二酚的转化是可逆的。此外，通过X射线、核磁共振、红外光谱等光谱分析，证明了每种化合物的构象有很大的不同。分子组装剂和/或聚合物的制备正在研究中。

Quinones and hydroquinones are ubiquitous components and play key roles of electron transport chain in living cells. We planned to develop a new molecular machine, whose conformation is switchable by the stimulation of redox potential, based on the difference of hydrogen-bonding network between quinones (hydrogen-bond acceptor) and hydroquinones (hydrogen-bond donor).We designed and synthesized several quinones/hydroquinones possessing an amide side chain at 2-position. it was made clear that conversion of quinones and hydroquinones is reversible under the redox conditions. Moreover, it was proved that the conformation of each compound is very different by spectral analysis such as X-ray, NMR and IR. The preparation of molecular assembler and/or polymer is under investigation.