Molecular machinery: synthesis of a "nanodragster"

The synthesis and imaging by scanning tunneling microscopy of a mixed wheeled nanovehicle composed of a p-carborane small-wheeled short front axle and a C(60) large-wheeled long rear axle that has been termed a nanodragster due to the structural relation to a dragster are reported. This nanodragster is expected to exhibit motion at a lower temperature than pure C(60)-wheeled nanocars and should allow the investigation of the role played by p-carborane wheels in directional motion.