Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Molecular Models02:00

Molecular Models

43.6K
Physical models representing molecular architectures of chemical compounds play essential roles in understanding chemistry. The use of molecular models makes it easier to visualize the structures and shapes of atoms and molecules.
43.6K
Light as Energy01:35

Light as Energy

95.6K
The energy required to carry out photosynthesis is light— typically electromagnetic radiation from the sun. The range of all possible wavelengths is known as the electromagnetic spectrum.
Photons
A photon is a discrete electromagnetic particle or bundle of energy. Photons are characterized by their frequency, wavelength, and amplitude, similar to the properties of a wave. Waves with higher frequencies transmit more energy and have shorter wavelengths than longer wavelengths that transmit...
95.6K
The Wave Nature of Light02:12

The Wave Nature of Light

61.1K
The nature of light has been a subject of inquiry since antiquity. In the seventeenth century, Isaac Newton performed experiments with lenses and prisms and was able to demonstrate that white light consists of the individual colors of the rainbow combined together. Newton explained his optics findings in terms of a "corpuscular" view of light, in which light was composed of streams of extremely tiny particles traveling at high speeds according to Newton's laws of motion.
61.1K
Molecular Compounds: Formulas and Nomenclature03:10

Molecular Compounds: Formulas and Nomenclature

55.4K
Molecular compounds or covalent compounds result when atoms share electrons to form covalent bonds. Since there is no electron transfer, molecular compounds do not contain ions; instead, they consist of discrete, neutral molecules. 
55.4K
Molecular and Ionic Solids02:54

Molecular and Ionic Solids

20.0K
Crystalline solids are divided into four types: molecular, ionic, metallic, and covalent network based on the type of constituent units and their interparticle interactions.
Molecular Solids
Molecular crystalline solids, such as ice, sucrose (table sugar), and iodine, are solids that are composed of neutral molecules as their constituent units. These molecules are held together by weak intermolecular forces such as London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole interactions, or hydrogen bonds, which...
20.0K
Molecular Orbital Theory II03:51

Molecular Orbital Theory II

27.1K
Molecular Orbital Energy Diagrams
27.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Utilizing Light to Control Glycopolymer-DC-SIGN Interactions via Molecular Motors.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

Light-Driven Dual Rotary Molecular Motors and Beyond.

Accounts of chemical research·2026
Same author

Benzene at 200: from a simple ring to a universe of fused aromatic carbon.

Chemical science·2026
Same author

Temperature- and Light-Regulated Liquid Crystal Smart Window for Dynamic Control of Daylight and Solar Heat in All-Weather Conditions.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026
Same author

Engineering Highly Photoefficient and Function-Tunable Molecular Rotary Motors toward Sunlight Responsiveness.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

Fully Reversible Photocontrol over DNA Intercalation with Visible Light.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 25, 2026

Light-driven Molecular Motors on Surfaces for Single Molecular Imaging
08:40

Light-driven Molecular Motors on Surfaces for Single Molecular Imaging

Published on: March 13, 2019

12.0K

Visible-Light-Driven Tunable Molecular Motors Based on Oxindole.

Diederik Roke1, Metin Sen1, Wojciech Danowski1

  • 1Stratingh Institute for Chemistry , University of Groningen , Nijenborgh 4 , 9747 AG , Groningen , The Netherlands.

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|April 25, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed novel molecular rotary motors powered by visible light. These oxindole-based motors are easily synthesized and their speed can be tuned, showing promise for light-responsive functional materials.

More Related Videos

Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics
09:10

Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics

Published on: August 25, 2022

3.8K
Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
09:58

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation

Published on: May 22, 2016

12.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 25, 2026

Light-driven Molecular Motors on Surfaces for Single Molecular Imaging
08:40

Light-driven Molecular Motors on Surfaces for Single Molecular Imaging

Published on: March 13, 2019

12.0K
Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics
09:10

Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics

Published on: August 25, 2022

3.8K
Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
09:58

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation

Published on: May 22, 2016

12.2K

Area of Science:

  • Supramolecular Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Molecular machines offer precise control over nanoscale movements.
  • Light-driven molecular motors provide non-invasive actuation mechanisms.
  • Oxindole derivatives are versatile scaffolds for molecular design.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a new class of molecular rotary motors based on oxindole.
  • To demonstrate visible light as a driving force for these motors.
  • To explore the facile synthesis and tunable properties of these molecular motors.

Main Methods:

  • Knoevenagel condensation for synthesis.
  • Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations for mechanistic exploration.
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), UV/vis, and Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy for characterization.

Main Results:

  • Successful synthesis of oxindole-based molecular rotary motors.
  • Demonstration of visible light-induced rotation.
  • Tuning of rotational speed by modifying the upper half of the motor structure.
  • Confirmation of photochemical and thermal isomerization steps via spectroscopic methods.

Conclusions:

  • Oxindole-based molecular motors driven by visible light are a novel and accessible class of molecular machines.
  • The rotational speed is readily tunable, offering design flexibility.
  • These motors hold significant potential for applications in light-responsive functional materials.