1
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Pruchyathamkorn J, Nguyen BNT, Grommet AB, Novoveska M, Ronson TK, Thoburn JD, Nitschke JR. Harnessing Maxwell's demon to establish a macroscale concentration gradient. Nat Chem 2024; 16:1558-1564. [PMID: 38858517 PMCID: PMC11374679 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-024-01549-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Maxwell's demon describes a thought experiment in which a 'demon' regulates the flow of particles between two adjoining spaces, establishing a potential gradient without appearing to do work. This seeming paradox led to the understanding that sorting entails thermodynamic work, a foundational concept of information theory. In the past centuries, many systems analogous to Maxwell's demon have been introduced in the form of molecular information, molecular pumps and ratchets. Here we report a functional example of a Maxwell's demon that pumps material over centimetres, whereas previous examples operated on a molecular scale. In our system, this demon drives directional transport of o-fluoroazobenzene between the arms of a U-tube apparatus upon light irradiation, transiting through an aqueous membrane containing a coordination cage. The concentration gradient thus obtained is further harnessed to drive naphthalene transport in the opposite direction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bao-Nguyen T Nguyen
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Angela B Grommet
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Miroslava Novoveska
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tanya K Ronson
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - John D Thoburn
- Department of Chemistry, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA, USA
| | - Jonathan R Nitschke
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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2
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Sheng J, Danowski W, Sardjan AS, Hou J, Crespi S, Ryabchun A, Domínguez MP, Jan Buma W, Browne WR, Feringa BL. Formylation boosts the performance of light-driven overcrowded alkene-derived rotary molecular motors. Nat Chem 2024; 16:1330-1338. [PMID: 38671301 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-024-01521-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Artificial molecular motors and machines constitute a critical element in the transition from individual molecular motion to the creation of collective dynamic molecular systems and responsive materials. The design of artificial light-driven molecular motors operating with high efficiency and selectivity constitutes an ongoing fundamental challenge. Here we present a highly versatile synthetic approach based on Rieche formylation that boosts the quantum yield of the forward photoisomerization reaction while reaching near-perfect selectivity in the steps involved in the unidirectional rotary cycle and drastically reducing competing photoreactions. This motor is readily accessible in its enantiopure form and operates with nearly quantitative photoconversions. It can easily be functionalized further and outperforms its direct predecessor as a reconfigurable chiral dopant in cholesteric liquid crystal materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyu Sheng
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Wojciech Danowski
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Institute of Supramolecular Science and Engineering (ISIS), Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Strasbourg, France
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andy S Sardjan
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jiaxin Hou
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Stefano Crespi
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Chemistry, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alexander Ryabchun
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Wybren Jan Buma
- Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, FELIX Laboratory, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wesley R Browne
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ben L Feringa
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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3
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Wu J, Greenfield JL. Photoswitchable Imines Drive Dynamic Covalent Systems to Nonequilibrium Steady States. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:20720-20727. [PMID: 39025474 PMCID: PMC11295185 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c03817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Coupling a photochemical reaction to a thermal exchange process can drive the latter to a nonequilibrium steady state (NESS) under photoirradiation. Typically, systems use separate motifs for photoresponse and equilibrium-related processes. Here, we show that photoswitchable imines can fulfill both roles simultaneously, autonomously driving a dynamic covalent system into a NESS under continuous light irradiation. We demonstrate this using transimination reactions, where E-to-Z photoisomerism generates a more kinetically labile species. At the NESS, energy is stored both in the metastable Z-isomer of the imine and in the system's nonequilibrium constitution; when the light is switched off, this stored energy is released as the system reverts to its equilibrium state. The system operates autonomously under continuous light irradiation and exhibits characteristics of a light-driven information ratchet. This is enabled by the dual-role of the imine linkage as both the photochromic and dynamic covalent bond. This work highlights the ability and application of these imines to drive systems to NESSs, thus offering a novel approach in the field of systems chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiarong Wu
- Institut
für Organische Chemie, Universität
Würzburg, Würzburg 97074, Germany
- Center
for Nanosystems Chemistry (CNC), Universität
Würzburg, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - Jake L. Greenfield
- Institut
für Organische Chemie, Universität
Würzburg, Würzburg 97074, Germany
- Center
for Nanosystems Chemistry (CNC), Universität
Würzburg, Würzburg 97074, Germany
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4
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Pol MD, Dai K, Thomann R, Moser S, Kanti Roy S, Pappas CG. Guiding Transient Peptide Assemblies with Structural Elements Embedded in Abiotic Phosphate Fuels. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202404360. [PMID: 38676693 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202404360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Despite great progress in the construction of non-equilibrium systems, most approaches do not consider the structure of the fuel as a critical element to control the processes. Herein, we show that the amino acid side chains (A, F, Nal) in the structure of abiotic phosphates can direct assembly and reactivity during transient structure formation. The fuels bind covalently to substrates and subsequently influence the structures in the assembly process. We focus on the ways in which the phosphate esters guide structure formation and how structures and reactivity cross regulate when constructing assemblies. Through the chemical functionalization of energy-rich aminoacyl phosphate esters, we are able to control the yield of esters and thioesters upon adding dipeptides containing tyrosine or cysteine residues. The structural elements around the phosphate esters guide the lifetime of the structures formed and their supramolecular assemblies. These properties can be further influenced by the peptide sequence of substrates, incorporating anionic, aliphatic and aromatic residues. Furthermore, we illustrate that oligomerization of esters can be initiated from a single aminoacyl phosphate ester incorporating a tyrosine residue (Y). These findings suggest that activated amino acids with varying reactivity and energy contents can pave the way for designing and fabricating structured fuels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahesh D Pol
- DFG Cluster of Excellence livMatS@FIT-, Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 21, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kun Dai
- DFG Cluster of Excellence livMatS@FIT-, Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Thomann
- Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Strasse 21, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sandra Moser
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 21, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Subhra Kanti Roy
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 21, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Charalampos G Pappas
- DFG Cluster of Excellence livMatS@FIT-, Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 21, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
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5
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Valentini M, Ercolani G, Di Stefano S. Kinetic Trapping of an Out-of-Equilibrium Dynamic Library of Imines by Changing Solvent. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202401104. [PMID: 38584126 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202401104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
A well-behaved dynamic library composed of two imines and corresponding amines was subjected to the action of an activated carboxylic acid (ACA), whose decarboxylation is known to be base promoted, in different solvents, namely CD2Cl2, CD3CN, and mixtures of them. Two non-equilibrium systems are consequently obtained: i) a dissipative (CD2Cl2) and ii) an out-of-equilibrium (CD3CN) dynamic library whose composition goes back to equilibrium after a given time. In the former case, the library is fully coupled with the decarboxylation of the ACA, while in the latter, an energy ratchet operates. In the mixed solvents, the library exhibits a mediated behavior. Interestingly, in the presence of an excess of added ACA, the different behavior of the imine library in the two solvents is expected to manifest only when the excess acid is consumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Valentini
- Department of Chemistry, Università di Roma La Sapienza and ISB-CNR Sede Secondaria di Roma -, Meccanismi di Reazione, P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185, Roma, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Ercolani
- Department of Chemical Science and Technology, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, I-00133, Roma, Italy
| | - Stefano Di Stefano
- Department of Chemistry, Università di Roma La Sapienza and ISB-CNR Sede Secondaria di Roma -, Meccanismi di Reazione, P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185, Roma, Italy
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Marchetti T, Roberts BMW, Frezzato D, Prins LJ. A Minimalistic Covalent Bond-Forming Chemical Reaction Cycle that Consumes Adenosine Diphosphate. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202402965. [PMID: 38533678 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202402965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
The development of synthetic active matter requires the ability to design materials capable of harnessing energy from a source to carry out work. Nature achieves this using chemical reaction cycles in which energy released from an exergonic chemical reaction is used to drive biochemical processes. Although many chemically fuelled synthetic reaction cycles that control transient responses, such as self-assembly, have been reported, the generally high complexity of the reported systems hampers a full understanding of how the available chemical energy is actually exploited by these systems. This lack of understanding is a limiting factor in the design of chemically fuelled active matter. Here, we report a minimalistic synthetic responsive reaction cycle in which adenosine diphosphate (ADP) triggers the formation of a catalyst for its own hydrolysis. This establishes an interdependence between the concentrations of the network components resulting in the transient formation of the catalyst. The network is sufficiently simple that all kinetic and thermodynamic parameters governing its behaviour can be characterised, allowing kinetic models to be built that simulate the progress of reactions within the network. While the current network does not enable the ADP-hydrolysis reaction to populate a non-equilibrium composition, these models provide insight into the way the network dissipates energy. Furthermore, essential design principles are revealed for constructing driven systems, in which the network composition is driven away from equilibrium through the consumption of chemical energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Marchetti
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padua, Via Marzolo, 1, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Benjamin M W Roberts
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padua, Via Marzolo, 1, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Diego Frezzato
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padua, Via Marzolo, 1, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Leonard J Prins
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padua, Via Marzolo, 1, 35131, Padua, Italy
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7
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Astumian RD. Kinetic Asymmetry and Directionality of Nonequilibrium Molecular Systems. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202306569. [PMID: 38236163 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202306569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Scientists have long been fascinated by the biomolecular machines in living systems that process energy and information to sustain life. The first synthetic molecular rotor capable of performing repeated 360° rotations due to a combination of photo- and thermally activated processes was reported in 1999. The progress in designing different molecular machines in the intervening years has been remarkable, with several outstanding examples appearing in the last few years. Despite the synthetic accomplishments, there remains confusion regarding the fundamental design principles by which the motions of molecules can be controlled, with significant intellectual tension between mechanical and chemical ways of thinking about and describing molecular machines. A thermodynamically consistent analysis of the kinetics of several molecular rotors and pumps shows that while light driven rotors operate by a power-stroke mechanism, kinetic asymmetry-the relative heights of energy barriers-is the sole determinant of the directionality of catalysis driven machines. Power-strokes-the relative depths of energy wells-play no role whatsoever in determining the sign of the directionality. These results, elaborated using trajectory thermodynamics and the nonequilibrium pump equality, show that kinetic asymmetry governs the response of many non-equilibrium chemical phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond Dean Astumian
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Maine, 5709 Bennett Hall, Orono, ME-04469, USA
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8
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Zwick P, Troncossi A, Borsley S, Vitorica-Yrezabal IJ, Leigh DA. Stepwise Operation of a Molecular Rotary Motor Driven by an Appel Reaction. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:4467-4472. [PMID: 38319727 PMCID: PMC10885133 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c10266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
To date, only a small number of chemistries and chemical fueling strategies have been successfully used to operate artificial molecular motors. Here, we report the 360° directionally biased rotation of phenyl groups about a C-C bond, driven by a stepwise Appel reaction sequence. The motor molecule consists of a biaryl-embedded phosphine oxide and phenol, in which full rotation around the biaryl bond is blocked by the P-O oxygen atom on the rotor being too bulky to pass the oxygen atom on the stator. Treatment with SOCl2 forms a cyclic oxyphosphonium salt (removing the oxygen atom of the phosphine oxide), temporarily linking the rotor with the stator. Conformational exchange via ring flipping then allows the rotor and stator to twist back and forth past the previous limit of rotation. Subsequently, the ring opening of the tethered intermediate with a chiral alcohol occurs preferentially through a nucleophilic attack on one face. Thus, the original phosphine oxide is reformed with net directional rotation about the biaryl bond over the course of the two-step reaction sequence. Each repetition of SOCl2-chiral alcohol additions generates another directionally biased rotation. Using the same reaction sequence on a derivative of the motor molecule that forms atropisomers rather than fully rotating 360° results in enantioenrichment, suggesting that, on average, the motor molecule rotates in the "wrong" direction once every three fueling cycles. The interconversion of phosphine oxides and cyclic oxyphosphonium groups to form temporary tethers that enable a rotational barrier to be overcome directionally adds to the strategies available for generating chemically fueled kinetic asymmetry in molecular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Zwick
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Axel Troncossi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Borsley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | | | - David A Leigh
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
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9
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Baluna A, Dommaschk M, Groh B, Kassem S, Leigh DA, Tetlow DJ, Thomas D, Varela López L. Switched "On" Transient Fluorescence Output from a Pulsed-Fuel Molecular Ratchet. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:27113-27119. [PMID: 38047919 PMCID: PMC10722508 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c11290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
We report the synthesis and operation of a molecular energy ratchet that transports a crown ether from solution onto a thread, along the axle, over a fluorophore, and off the other end of the thread back into bulk solution, all in response to a single pulse of a chemical fuel (CCl3CO2H). The fluorophore is a pyrene residue whose fluorescence is normally prevented by photoinduced electron transfer (PET) to a nearby N-methyltriazolium group. However, crown ether binding to the N-methyltriazolium site inhibits the PET, switching on pyrene fluorescence under UV irradiation. Each pulse of fuel results in a single ratchet cycle of transient fluorescence (encompassing threading, transport to the N-methyltriazolium site, and then dethreading), with the onset of the fluorescent time period determined by the amount of fuel in each pulse and the end-point determined by the concentration of the reagents for the disulfide exchange reaction. The system provides a potential alternative signaling approach for artificial molecular machines that read symbols from sequence-encoded molecular tapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei
S. Baluna
- Department of Chemistry, University
of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Marcel Dommaschk
- Department of Chemistry, University
of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Burkhard Groh
- Department of Chemistry, University
of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Salma Kassem
- Department of Chemistry, University
of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - David A. Leigh
- Department of Chemistry, University
of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Daniel J. Tetlow
- Department of Chemistry, University
of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Dean Thomas
- Department of Chemistry, University
of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Loli Varela López
- Department of Chemistry, University
of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, U.K.
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