Dissipative sequential catalysis via six-component machinery

Area of Science:

• Supramolecular chemistry
• Catalysis
• Organic synthesis

Background:

• Non-catalytic molecular machines often require external energy input for function.
• Developing self-processing molecular systems is a key challenge in supramolecular chemistry.
• Sequential catalysis offers efficient pathways for complex molecule synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the transformation of a non-catalytic molecular rotor into a catalytic system.
• To explore the use of a fuel system to drive catalytic processes.
• To demonstrate a novel approach to sequential catalysis using molecular machines.

Main Methods:

• Utilized triphenyl phosphane and an epoxide as a fuel system.
• Observed the transient transformation of a six-component turnstile into a four-component rotor.
• Identified the release of N-methyl pyrrolidine and a copper(I) complex as catalytic species.

Main Results:

• The released N-methyl pyrrolidine and copper(I) complex acted synergistically as catalysts.
• The catalytic system successfully performed a Michael addition reaction.
• The system subsequently executed a 5-exo-dig cyclization, demonstrating sequential catalysis.
• Achieved dissipative sequential catalysis driven by the fuel system.

Conclusions:

• A non-catalytic molecular machine can be transiently converted into a catalytic entity.
• Fuel-driven systems can initiate and sustain complex catalytic sequences.
• This work provides a new strategy for designing self-processing and catalytic molecular machines.