AdEC Seminars - Topology and Molecular Machines : Two Interlinked Research Fields

We are very delighted to announce you the next AdEC seminar in which we will be hosting a very special guest, Professor Jean-Pierre Sauvage, laureate of the 2016 Nobel Prize alongside James Fraser Stoddart and Bernard L. Feringa. Professor Sauvage, a former CNRS researcher and member of l’Académie des Sciences has been rewarded for his pioneering work in the design and synthesis of molecular machines.

This seminar will be happening on Zoom Wednesday 23rd of March beginning from 17:00. The seminar will begin first with a talk from Professor Sauvage before pursuing with a questions and answers session.

Abstract

The area referred to as "Chemical Topology^" is mostly concerned with molecules whose molecular graph is non-planar, i.e. which cannot be represented in a plane without crossing points. The most important family of such compounds is that of catenanes. The simplest catenane, a [2]catenane, consists of two interlocking rings. Rotaxanes consist of rings threaded by acyclic fragments (axes). These compounds have always been associated to catenanes although, strictly speaking, their molecular graphs are planar. Knotted rings are more challenging to prepare. Several spectacular knotted topologies at the molecular level have been created since the beginning of the 90s either by our group or by other highly creative research teams.

Since the mid-90s, the field of artificial molecular machines has experienced a spectacular development, in relation to molecular devices at the nanometric level or as mimics of biological motors. In biology, motor proteins are of utmost importance in a large variety of processes essential to life (ATP synthase, a rotary motor, or the myosin-actin complex of striated muscles behaving as a linear motor responsible for contraction or elongation). Many examples published by a large number of highly creative research groups are based on complex rotaxanes or catenanes acting as switchable systems or molecular machines. Particularly significant examples include a “pirouetting catenane”, “molecular shuttles” (Stoddart and others) as well as multi-rotaxanes reminiscent of muscles. More recent examples are those of multi-rotaxanes able to behave as compressors and switchable receptors or as molecular pumps. The molecules are set in motion using electrochemical, photonic or chemical signals. Particularly impressive light-driven rotary motors have been created by the team of Feringa.
Finally, potential applications will be mentioned as well as possible future developments of this active area of research.