We demonstrate the near-quantitative formation of an imine bond in water under physiologically relevant conditions using a stoichiometric ratio of aldehyde and amine. To overcome the low hydrolytic stability of imines in water, a complementary metal coordination bond between the amine and aldehyde monomers is introduced to enhance the thermodynamic stability of the imine. Imine bond formation is substrate-selective, tolerates the presence of a variety of functional groups, and produces imines that are stable in a broad pH range. We also show that the presence of a second metal-ion complex in the building blocks provides a regulatory handle to ‘switch on’ imine-bond formation using ATP as an external allosteric effector.

In a non-equilibrium environment, molecular machines can undergo a directed flow through configurational changes, a feature that is widely exploited in processes characteristic of life. The use of suc...

YouTube video by SanGiacomoSpazioArte

Nature Nanotechnology - An abiotic information ratchet mechanism increases selectivity for the correct DNA duplex from 2:1 at equilibrium to 6:1 under energy-dissipating conditions.

An early love of construction toys led the Scottish chemist to thread molecules together, opening up a new field of chemistry. An early love of construction toys led the Scottish chemist to thread molecules together, opening up a new field of chemistry.

We're an interdisciplinary research group led by Dr Stephen Fielden within the School of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham. We research polymers, nanoparticles and supramolecular chemistry.

A cross-linked polymer gel driven by artificial molecular motors transforms chemical energy into mechanical force, achieving powered contraction and re-expansion, demonstrating a considerable advance in understanding energy transduction mechanisms and informing nanotechnology design principles.

Alt: a man in a suit speaks into a microphone and says, 'this is the start of your career'

Lecturer in Organic Chemistry - AC2577LS, School of Chemistry Salary: £46,485 - £56,921 per annum (£46,735 - £57,422pa from March 2025) Start Date: August 2025, <p style="text-align: justify;"><span...

At jobs.ac.uk, you can apply for a PhD Studentship: Mechanically Interlocked Biomolecules and Biomaterials for Drug Delivery Applications. Explore our diverse range of PhD opportunities today.

UniPD