Molecular Microscopy Research Group and Single-molecule Biophysics, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
Nat Chem. 2013 Dec;5(12):993-9. doi: 10.1038/nchem.1800.
In recent years, single-molecule and single-particle fluorescence microscopy has emerged as a tool to investigate chemical systems. After an initial lag of over a decade with respect to biophysical studies, this powerful imaging technique is now revealing mechanisms of 'classical' organic reactions, spatial distribution of chemical reactivity on surfaces and the phase of active catalysts. The recent advance into commercial imaging systems obviates the need for home-built laser systems and thus opens this technique to traditionally trained synthetic chemists. We discuss the requisite photophysical and chemical properties of fluorescent reporters and highlight the main challenges in applying single-molecule techniques to chemical questions. The goal of this Perspective is to provide a snapshot of an emerging multidisciplinary field and to encourage broader use of this young experimental approach that aids the observation of chemical reactions as depicted in many textbooks: molecule by molecule.
近年来，单分子和单粒子荧光显微镜已经成为研究化学体系的一种工具。在生物物理研究方面落后了十多年之后，这种强大的成像技术现在正在揭示“经典”有机反应的机制、表面化学反应性的空间分布以及活性催化剂的相。最近，商业成像系统的发展使得不再需要自制的激光系统，从而使这种技术向传统的合成化学家开放。我们讨论了荧光报告器所需的光物理和化学性质，并强调了将单分子技术应用于化学问题的主要挑战。本观点的目的是提供一个新兴多学科领域的快照，并鼓励更广泛地使用这种新兴的实验方法，以帮助观察许多教科书中所描述的化学反应：分子到分子。
