Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
Chem Rev. 2021 Nov 10;121(21):13213-13237. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00340. Epub 2021 Sep 17.
Molecular photoactuators can control shape and chemical or physical properties of the responsive system they are embedded in. These effects are usually mediated by supramolecular interactions and can be amplified to perform work at the micro- and macroscopic scale, for instance, in materials and biomimetic systems. While many studies focus on the observable outcome of these events, photoresponsive structures can also translate their conformational change to molecular components and perform work against random Brownian motion. Stereochemical cascades can amplify light-generated motion to a distant moiety of the same molecule or molecular assembly, via conformationally restricted stereogenic elements. Being able to control the conformation or motion of molecular systems remotely provides prospects for the design of the smallest machines imaginable. This Focus Review emphasizes the emergence of directed, coupled motion of remote functionalities triggered by light-powered switches and motors as a tool to control molecular topology and function.
分子光致动器可以控制其嵌入的响应系统的形状和化学或物理性质。这些效应通常通过超分子相互作用介导，并可以放大以在微观和宏观尺度上做功，例如在材料和仿生系统中。虽然许多研究都集中在这些事件的可观察结果上，但光响应结构也可以将它们的构象变化转化为分子组件，并对抗随机布朗运动做功。通过构象受限的手性元素，立体化学级联可以将光产生的运动放大到同一分子或分子组装体的遥远部分。能够远程控制分子系统的构象或运动为设计尽可能小的机器提供了前景。本重点综述强调了由光动力开关和马达触发的远程功能的定向、耦合运动的出现，这是控制分子拓扑和功能的一种工具。
