A Chemically Fuelled Molecular Automaton Displaying Programmed Migration of Zn²⁺ Between Alternative Binding Sites.

ABSTRACT: A molecular system comprising a cationic zinc complex and an amino acid-derived ambident ligand having phosphate and carboxylate binding sites undergoes a series of rearrangements in which the metal cation migrates autonomously from one site to another. The location of the metal is identified by the circular dichroism spectrum of a ligated bis(2-quinolylmethyl)-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (BQPA) chromophore, which takes a characteristic shape at each binding site. Migration is fuelled by the decomposition of trichloroacetic acid to CO₂ and CHCl₃ , which progressively neutralises the acidity of the system as a function of time, revealing in sequence binding sites of increasing basicity. The migration rate responds to control by variation of the temperature, water content an

SUBMITTER: Wootten MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9804598 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature