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Updated: Jul 28, 2025

Single-molecule Manipulation of G-quadruplexes by Magnetic Tweezers
Published on: September 19, 2017
Main Group Molecular Switches with Swivel Bifurcated to Trifurcated Hydrogen Bond Mode of Action
Gavin Hum1, Si Jia Isabel Phang1, How Chee Ong1
1School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, 637371 Singapore, Singapore.
Abstract:
Artificial molecular machines have captured the full attention of the scientific community since Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Fraser Stoddart, and Ben Feringa were awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The past and current developments in molecular machinery (rotaxanes, rotors, and switches) primarily rely on organic-based compounds as molecular building blocks for their assembly and future development. In contrast, the main group chemical space has not been traditionally part of the molecular machine domain. The oxidation states and valency ranges within the p-block provide a tremendous wealth of structures with various chemical properties. Such chemical diversity─when implemented in molecular machines─could become a transformative force in the field. Within this context, we have rationally designed a series of NH-bridged acyclic dimeric cyclodiphosphazane species, [(μ-NH){PE(μ-NtBu)2PE(NHtBu)}2] (E = O and S), bis-PV2N2, displaying bimodal bifurcated R21(8) and trifurcated R31(8,8) hydrogen bonding motifs. The reported species reversibly switch their topological arrangement in the presence and absence of anions. Our results underscore these species as versatile building blocks for molecular machines and switches, as well as supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering based on cyclophosphazane frameworks.
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