Stepwise Operation of a Molecular Rotary Motor Driven by an Appel Reaction.

ABSTRACT: To date, only a small number of chemistries and chemical fueling strategies have been successfully used to operate artificial molecular motors. Here, we report the 360° directionally biased rotation of phenyl groups about a C-C bond, driven by a stepwise Appel reaction sequence. The motor molecule consists of a biaryl-embedded phosphine oxide and phenol, in which full rotation around the biaryl bond is blocked by the P-O oxygen atom on the rotor being too bulky to pass the oxygen atom on the stator. Treatment with SOCl₂ forms a cyclic oxyphosphonium salt (removing the oxygen atom of the phosphine oxide), temporarily linking the rotor with the stator. Conformational exchange via ring flipping then allows the rotor and stator to twist back and forth past the previous limit of rota

SUBMITTER: Zwick P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10885133 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature