Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 25, 2025

Spatial Separation of Molecular Conformers and Clusters
Published on: January 9, 2014
Shapeshifting molecules: the story so far and the shape of things to come
Aisha N Bismillah1, Brette M Chapin1, Burhan A Hussein1
1Department of Chemistry , Durham University , Lower Mountjoy, Stockton Road , Durham , DH1 3LE , UK .
Abstract:
Shapeshifting molecules exhibit rapid constitutional dynamics while remaining stable, isolable molecules, making them promising artificial scaffolds from which to explore complex biological systems and create new functional materials. However, their structural complexity presents challenges for designing their syntheses and understanding their equilibria. This minireview showcases (1) recent applications of highly dynamic shapeshifting molecules in sensing and distinguishing complex small molecules and (2) detailed insights into the adaptation of tractable bistable systems to changes in their local environment. The current status of this field is summarised and its future prospects are discussed.
More Related Videos
10:23Time-Resolved Fluorescence Anisotropy from Single Molecules for Characterizing Local Flexibility in Biomolecules
Published on: April 25, 2025
11:00Hand Controlled Manipulation of Single Molecules via a Scanning Probe Microscope with a 3D Virtual Reality Interface
Published on: October 2, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Thermal Sigmatropic Reactions: Overview
Sigmatropic shifts are classified based on an order term [i, j ], where i and j indicate the number of atoms across which each end of the σ bond migrates. Below are examples of a [3,3] sigmatropic shift in 1,5-hexadiene, referred...
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Temporal Resolution
Molecular Shapes
Two regions of electron density in a diatomic...
Inductive Effects on Chemical Shift: Overview
Chirality in Nature
Molecular Chaperones and Protein Folding
The...