Toward metal complexes that can directionally walk along tracks: controlled stepping of a molecular biped with a palladium(II)

Beves, J.E., Blanco, V., Blight, B.A., Carrillo, R., D'Souza, D.M., Howgego, D., Leigh, D.A., Slawin, A.M.Z. and Symes, M.D. (2014) Toward metal complexes that can directionally walk along tracks: controlled stepping of a molecular biped with a palladium(II). Journal of the American Chemical Society, 136(5), pp. 2094-2100. (doi: 10.1021/ja4123973)

Abstract

We report on the design, synthesis, and operation of a bimetallic molecular biped on a three-foothold track. The “walker” features a palladium(II) complex “foot” that can be selectively stepped between 4-dimethylaminopyridine and pyridine ligand sites on the track via reversible protonation while the walker remains attached to the track throughout by means of a kinetically inert platinum(II) complex foot. The substitution pattern of the three ligand binding sites, together with the kinetic stability of the metal–ligand coordination bonds, affords the two positional isomers a high degree of metastability, meaning that altering the chemical state of the track does not automatically instigate stepping in the absence of an additional stimulus (heat in the presence of a coordinating solvent). The use of metastable metal complexes for foot–track interactions offers a promising alternative to dynamic covalent chemistry for the design of small-molecule synthetic molecular walkers.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Symes, Professor Mark
• Authors: Beves, J.E., Blanco, V., Blight, B.A., Carrillo, R., D'Souza, D.M., Howgego, D., Leigh, D.A., Slawin, A.M.Z., and Symes, M.D.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: Journal of the American Chemical Society
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• ISSN: 0002-7863
• ISSN (Online): 1520-5126