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The Transient Covalent Bond in Abiotic Nonequilibrium Systems
Lasith S Kariyawasam1, Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain1, C Scott Hartley1
1Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA.
This review explores how transient covalent bonds, powered by chemical fuels, enable non-biological systems to operate out-of-equilibrium. These fuel chemistries drive diverse functions like self-assembly and molecular machines.
Area of Science:
- Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Biochemical systems utilize chemical fuels to perform critical functions out-of-equilibrium.
- Transient covalent bonds offer a simple yet effective strategy for designing analogous abiotic reaction networks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review fuel chemistries used for generating transient bonds in abiotic nonequilibrium systems.
- To categorize these fuel reactions and illustrate their application in diverse nonequilibrium behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Classification of fuel reactions based on structural contribution to the activated state.
- Categorization of systems by overall fuel reaction (e.g., alkylating agent hydrolysis, carbodiimide hydration).
Main Results:
- Identified two fundamental classifications of fuel chemistries for transient bond formation.
- Demonstrated diverse nonequilibrium behaviors including self-assembly and molecular machines using these chemistries.
Conclusions:
- Transient covalent bonds are versatile tools for creating abiotic nonequilibrium systems.
- Fuel chemistry dictates the application and behavior of these synthetic systems.
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