Relative contractile motion of the rings in a switchable palindromic [3]rotaxane in aqueous solution driven by
Leah S Witus1, Karel J Hartlieb, Yuping Wang
1Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA. stoddart@northwestern.edu.
Abstract:
Artificial muscles are an essential component for the development of next-generation prosthetic devices, minimally invasive surgical tools, and robotics. This communication describes the design, synthesis, and characterisation of a mechanically interlocked molecule (MIM), capable of switchable and reversible linear molecular motion in aqueous solution that mimics muscular contraction and extension. Compatibility with aqueous solution was achieved in the doubly bistable palindromic [3]rotaxane design by using radical-based molecular recognition as the driving force to induce switching.
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