| dc.description.abstract | This research aims to understand how to design and control molecular hinges. The molecular hinges of interest are nano-sized equivalents of door hinges. Such hinges could find applications in new materials or the design of new drugs.
The foundation for this research was the observation that a large, ring-shaped molecule - a so-called macrocycle - prepared by a colleague folded and unfolded rapidly at room temperature. Two research questions arose from this observation: was the hinge behavior unique to this molecule, and could the hinging rate be controlled?
Addressing these questions required the three-step synthesis of a related macrocycle. This new molecule had groups equivalent to putting grit around the hinge's pin. The difference in the rate of hinging motion due to the addition of these groups was observed using a technique called variable temperature NMR spectroscopy.
The results of this work revealed that hinging is a general phenomenon for some of these macrocycles. Second, the 'molecular dirt' designed into this new hinge reduced the rate of hinge motion from 2000 times per second to 20 times per second.
This work is currently undergoing revisions for Chemistry based on the novelty of this molecular device and the scientific community's interest in molecular machines. | |
