The rational design of autonomous light-powered molecular motors remains a formidable challenge in nanoscience. Now, a photochemically driven diazene-based rotary motor has been shown to rotate around...

Researcher - organic chemistry I

The structural design of molecular machines and motors endows them with externally controlled directional motion at the molecular scale. Their further ...

Multi-addressable molecular photoswitches whose isomerisation can be triggered not only by light, but also by other stimuli are appealing for the development of novel smart materials as well as for br...

N-Alkyl imines are prevalent in dynamic-covalent chemistry and self-assembled structures, yet their E/Z photochromism is often overlooked due to the high-energy light required for isomerization. Here, we present a simple strategy to enhance their photoswitching properties, achieving switching wavelengths and photostationary state distributions comparable to azobenzene. Moreover, we demonstrate that these N-alkyl imines undergo photoisomerization in the condensed phase and exhibit isomer-dependent fluorescence. We anticipate that this study will inspire the design of photoresponsive architectures that operate directly at the dynamic-covalent bond, eliminating the need for dedicated photoswitchable motifs.

A light-fueled reaction drives a non-photoresponsive process out of equilibrium. The system features a dynamic-covalent network of four imines: two are photoswitchable and undergo light-driven transimination at 405 nm, while the others are unresponsive. Illumination establishes a non-equilibrium steady state, with feedback between the coupled reactions pushing the system further from equilibrium. This work offers a blueprint for using light to drive non-photoresponsive transiminations away from equilibrium.

Peptides are highly selective organocatalysts, with intrinsic modularity allowing precise control over structure and function. Advances in peptide synthesis, biotechnology, and cheminformatics will en...