[1,n]-Metal migrations for directional translational motion at the molecular level.

The controlled translational motion displayed by nature's motor proteins underpins a wealth of processes integral to life, from organelle transport to muscle contraction. The motor proteins move along one dimensional cytoskeletal tracks, with their motion characterised by high association of the enzyme to the biopolymer combined with highly dynamic motion along the track. Here we introduce carbon-to-carbon metal migration as a platform for dynamic association and show how such migrations, in combination with the incorporation of a simple hydrocarbon, can be harnessed to achieve autonomous directional translational motion of a metal centre along the length of a polyaromatic track.