Molecular stirrers in action

Molecular Machines For The Control Of Transmembrane Transport

Nature embeds some of its molecular machinery, including ion pumps, within lipid bilayer membranes. This has inspired chemists to attempt to develop synthetic analogues to exploit membrane confinement and transmembrane potential gradients, much like their biological cousins. In this perspective, we outline the various strategies by which molecular machines─molecular systems in which a nanomechanical motion is exploited for function─have been designed to be incorporated within lipid membranes and utilized to mediate transmembrane ion transport. We survey molecular machines spanning both switches and motors, those that act as mobile carriers or that are anchored within the membrane, mechanically interlocked molecules, and examples that are activated in response to external stimuli.

Amplifying Molecular Scale Rotary Motion: The Marriage of Overcrowded Alkene Molecular Motor with Liquid Crystals

Design and fabrication of macroscopic functional devices by molecular engineering is an emerging and effective strategy in exploration of advanced materials. Photoresponsive overcrowded alkene-based molecular motor (OAMM) is considered as one of the most promising molecular machines due to the unique rotary motion driven by light with high temporal and spatial precision. Amplifying the molecular rotary motions into macroscopic behaviors of photodirected systems links the molecular dynamics with macroscopic motions of materials, providing new opportunities to design novel materials and devices with a bottom-up strategy. In this review, recent developments of the light-responsive liquid crystal system triggered by OAMM will be summarized. The mechanism of amplification effect of liquid crystal matrix will be introduced first. Then progress of the OAMM-driven liquid crystal materials will be described including light-controlled photonic crystals, texture-tunable liquid crystal coating and microspheres, photoactuated soft robots, and dynamic optical devices. It is hoped that this review provides inspirations in design and exploration of light-driven soft matters and novel functional materials from molecular engineering to structural modification.

Designing light-driven rotary molecular motors

The ability to induce and amplify motion at the molecular scale has seen tremendous progress ranging from simple molecular rotors to responsive materials. In the two decades since the discovery of light-driven rotary molecular motors, the development of these molecules has been extensive; moving from the realm of molecular chemistry to integration into dynamic molecular systems. They have been identified as actuators holding great potential to precisely control the dynamics of nanoscale devices, but integrating molecular motors effectively into evermore complex artificial molecular machinery is not trivial. Maximising efficiency without compromising function requires conscious and judicious selection of the structures used. In this perspective, we focus on the key aspects of motor design and discuss how to manipulate these properties without impeding motor integrity. Herein, we describe these principles in the context of molecular rotary motors featuring a central double bond axle and emphasise the strengths and weaknesses of each design, providing a comprehensive evaluation of all artificial light-driven rotary motor scaffolds currently present in the literature. Based on this discussion, we will explore the trajectory of research into the field of molecular motors in the coming years, including challenges to be addressed, potential applications, and future prospects.

Light-Driven Molecular Motors Boost the Selective Transport of Alkali Metal Ions through Phospholipid Bilayers

A hydrophobic light-driven rotary motor is functionalized with two 18-crown-6 macrocycles and incorporated into phospholipid bilayers. In the presence of this molecular construct, fluorescence assays and patch clamp experiments show the formation of selective alkali ion channels through the membrane. Further, they reveal a strongly accelerated ion transport mechanism under light irradiation. This increase of the fractional ion transport activity (up to 400%) is attributed to the out-of-equilibrium actuation dynamics of the light-driven rotary motors, which help to overcome the activation energy necessary to achieve translocation of alkali ions between macrocycles along the artificial channels.

Dynamic Polymer Free Volume Monitored by Single-Molecule Spectroscopy of a Dual Fluorescent Flapping Dopant

Single-molecule spectroscopy (SMS) of a dual fluorescent flapping molecular probe (N-FLAP) enabled real-time nanoscale monitoring of local free volume dynamics in polystyrenes. The SMS study was realized by structural improvement of a previously reported flapping molecule by nitrogen substitution, leading to increased brightness (22 times) of the probe. In a polystyrene thin film at the temperature of 5 K above the glass transition, the spectra of a single N-FLAP molecule undergo frequent jumps between short- and long-wavelength forms, the latter one indicating planarization of the molecule in the excited state. The observed spectral jumps were statistically analyzed to reveal the dynamics of the molecular environment. The analysis together with MD and QM/MM calculations show that the excited-state planarization of the flapping probe occurs only when sufficiently large polymer free volume of more than, at least, 280 ų is available close to the molecule, and that such free volume lasts for an average of 1.2 s.

Dynamics of Meso-Chiral Interconversion in a Butterfly-Shape Overcrowded Alkene Rotor Tunable by Solvent Properties

Elucidation of dynamics of molecular rotational motion is an essential part and challenging area of research. We demonstrate reversible diastereomeric interconversion of a molecular rotor composed of overcrowded butterfly-shape alkene (FDF). Its inherent dual rotatory motion (two rotors, one stator) with interconversion between two diastereomers, chiral trans-FDF and meso cis-FDF forms, has been examined in detail upon varying temperatures and solvents. The free energy profile of 180° revolution of one rotor part has a bimodal shape with unevenly positioned maxima (transition states). FDF in aromatic solvents adopts preferentially meso cis-conformation, while in non-aromatic solvents a chiral trans-conformation is more abundant owing to the solvent interactions with peripheral hexyl chains (solvophobic effect). Moderate correlations between the trans-FDF/cis-FDF ratio and solvent parameters, such as refractive index, polarizability, and viscosity were found.

Vibrational Damping Reveals Vibronic Coupling in Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Materials

We investigate a series of D-A molecules consisting of spiro[acridan-9,9'-fluorene] as the donor and 2-phenylenepyrimidine as the acceptor. In two of the materials, a spiro center effectively electronically isolates the D unit from (consequently) optically innocent yet structurally influential adamantyl side groups. In a third material, adamantyl groups attached directly to the acceptor strongly influence the electronic properties. Steady-state and time-resolved photophysical studies in solution, Zeonex polymer matrix, and neat films reveal that the substituents impact the efficiency of vibronic coupling between singlet and triplet states relevant to reverse intersystem crossing (rISC) and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), without significantly changing the singlet-triplet gap in the materials. The adamantyl groups serve to raise the segmental mass and inertia, thereby damping intramolecular motions (both vibrational and rotational). This substitution pattern reveals the role of large-amplitude (primarily D-A dihedral angle rocking) motions on reverse intersystem crossing (rISC), as well as smaller contributions from low-amplitude or dampened vibrations in solid state. We demonstrate that rISC still occurs when the high-amplitude motions are suppressed in Zeonex and discuss various vibronic coupling scenarios that point to an underappreciated role of intersegmental motions that persist in rigid solids. Our results underline the complexity of vibronic couplings in the mediation of rISC and provide a synthetic tool to enable future investigations of vibronic coupling through selective mechanical dampening with no impact on electronic systems.

Mechanistic analysis of light-driven overcrowded alkene-based molecular motors by multiscale molecular simulations

We analyze light-driven overcrowded alkene-based molecular motors, an intriguing class of small molecules that have the potential to generate MHz-scale rotation rates. The full rotation process is simulated at multiple scales by combining quantum surface-hopping molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for the photoisomerization step with classical MD simulations for the thermal helix inversion step. A Markov state analysis resolves conformational substates, their interconversion kinetics, and their roles in the motor's rotation process. Furthermore, motor performance metrics, including rotation rate and maximal power output, are computed to validate computations against experimental measurements and to inform future designs. Lastly, we find that to correctly model these motors, the force field must be optimized by fitting selected parameters to reference quantum mechanical energy surfaces. Overall, our simulations yield encouraging agreement with experimental observables such as rotation rates, and provide mechanistic insights that may help future designs.

Cooperative and synchronized rotation in motorized porous frameworks: impact on local and global transport properties of confined fluids

Simulations reveal the influence of rotating molecular motors and the importance of orientation and directionality for altering the transport properties of fluids. This has outlined that motors with specific rotation can generate directed diffusion.

Molecular motor-functionalized porphyrin macrocycles

Molecular motors and switches change conformation under the influence of an external stimulus, e.g. light. They can be incorporated into functional systems, allowing the construction of adaptive materials and switchable catalysts. Here, we present two molecular motor-functionalized porphyrin macrocycles for future photo-switchable catalysis. They display helical, planar and point chirality, and are diastereomers, which differ in the relative orientation of the motor and macrocyclic components. Fluorescence, UV-vis, and ¹H NMR experiments reveal that the motor-functionalized macrocycles can bind and thread different variants of viologen guests, including a one-side blocked polymeric one of 30 repeat units. The latter feature indicates that the motor systems can find the open end of a polymer chain, thread on it, and move along the chain to eventually bind at the viologen trap, opening possibilities for catalytic writing on single polymer chains via chemical routes.

Molecular motors and switches change conformation under the influence of an external stimulus and can be incorporated into functional systems, allowing the construction of adaptive materials and switchable catalysts. Here, the authors present two molecular motor-functionalized porphyrin macrocycles for future photo-switchable catalysis.

Powering rotary molecular motors with low-intensity near-infrared light

Light-controlled artificial molecular machines hold tremendous potential to revolutionize molecular sciences as autonomous motion allows the design of smart materials and systems whose properties can respond, adapt, and be modified on command. One long-standing challenge toward future applicability has been the need to develop methods using low-energy, low-intensity, near-infrared light to power these nanomachines. Here, we describe a rotary molecular motor sensitized by a two-photon absorber, which efficiently operates under near-infrared light at intensities and wavelengths compatible with in vivo studies. Time-resolved spectroscopy was used to gain insight into the mechanism of energy transfer to the motor following initial two-photon excitation. Our results offer prospects toward in vitro and in vivo applications of artificial molecular motors.

Light-Activated Organic Molecular Motors and Their Applications

Molecular motors are at the heart of cellular machinery, and they are involved in converting chemical and light energy inputs into efficient mechanical work. From a synthetic perspective, the most advanced molecular motors are rotators that are activated by light wherein a molecular subcomponent rotates unidirectionally around an axis. The mechanical work produced by arrays of molecular motors can be used to induce a macroscopic effect. Light activation offers advantages over biological chemically activated molecular motors because one can direct precise spatiotemporal inputs while conducting reactions in the gas phase, in solution and in vacuum, while generating no chemical byproducts or waste. In this review, we describe the origins of the first light-activated rotary motors and their modes of function, the structural modifications that led to newer motor designs with optimized rotary properties at variable activation wavelengths. Presented are molecular motor attachments to surfaces, their insertion into supramolecular structures and photomodulating materials, their use in catalysis, and their action in biological environments to produce exciting new prospects for biomedicine.

Photo- and Redox-Driven Artificial Molecular Motors

Directed motion at the nanoscale is a central attribute of life, and chemically driven motor proteins are nature's choice to accomplish it. Motivated and inspired by such bionanodevices, in the past few decades chemists have developed artificial prototypes of molecular motors, namely, multicomponent synthetic species that exhibit directionally controlled, stimuli-induced movements of their parts. In this context, photonic and redox stimuli represent highly appealing modes of activation, particularly from a technological viewpoint. Here we describe the evolution of the field of photo- and redox-driven artificial molecular motors, and we provide a comprehensive review of the work published in the past 5 years. After an analysis of the general principles that govern controlled and directed movement at the molecular scale, we describe the fundamental photochemical and redox processes that can enable its realization. The main classes of light- and redox-driven molecular motors are illustrated, with a particular focus on recent designs, and a thorough description of the functions performed by these kinds of devices according to literature reports is presented. Limitations, challenges, and future perspectives of the field are critically discussed.

Solvent Mixing To Induce Molecular Motor Aggregation into Bowl-Shaped Particles: Underlying Mechanism, Particle Nature, and Application To Control Motor Behavior

Control over dynamic functions in larger assemblies is key to many molecular systems, ranging from responsive materials to molecular machines. Here we report a molecular motor that forms bowl-shaped particles in water and how confinement of the molecular motor affects rotary motion. Studying the aggregation process in a broader context, we provide evidence that, in the case of bowl-shaped particles, the structures are not the product of self-assembly, but a direct result of the mixing a good solvent and a (partial) non-solvent and highly independent of the molecular design. Under the influence of the non-solvent, droplets are formed, of which the exterior is hardened due to the increase in the glass transition temperature by the external medium, while the interior of the droplets remains plasticized by the solvent, resulting in the formation of stable bowl-shaped particles with a fluid interior, a glass-like exterior, and a very specific shape: dense spheres with a hole in their side. Applying this to a bulky first-generation molecular motor allowed us to change its isomerization behavior. Furthermore, the motor shows in situ photo-switchable aggregation-induced emission. Strong confinement prohibits the thermal helix inversion step while altering the energy barriers that determine the rotary motion, such that it introduces a reverse trans- cis isomerization upon heating. These studies show a remarkable control of forward and backward rotary motion by simply changing solvent ratios and extent of confinement.

Design, Synthesis, and Isomerization Studies of Light-Driven Molecular Motors for Single Molecular Imaging

The design of a multicomponent system that aims at the direct visualization of a synthetic rotary motor at the single molecule level on surfaces is presented. The synthesis of two functional motors enabling photochemical rotation and fluorescent detection is described. The light-driven molecular motor is found to operate in the presence of a fluorescent tag if a rigid long rod (32 Å) is installed between both photoactive moieties. The photochemical isomerization and subsequent thermal helix inversion steps are confirmed by ¹H NMR and UV–vis absorption spectroscopies. In addition, the tetra-acid functioned motor can be successfully grafted onto amine-coated quartz and it is shown that the light responsive rotary motion on surfaces is preserved.

Molecular rotary motors: Unidirectional motion around double bonds

The field of synthetic molecular machines has quickly evolved in recent years, growing from a fundamental curiosity to a highly active field of chemistry. Many different applications are being explored in areas such as catalysis, self-assembled and nanostructured materials, and molecular electronics. Rotary molecular motors hold great promise for achieving dynamic control of molecular functions as well as for powering nanoscale devices. However, for these motors to reach their full potential, many challenges still need to be addressed. In this paper we focus on the design principles of rotary motors featuring a double-bond axle and discuss the major challenges that are ahead of us. Although great progress has been made, further design improvements, for example in terms of efficiency, energy input, and environmental adaptability, will be crucial to fully exploit the opportunities that these rotary motors offer.

Stimuli-Directed Dynamic Reconfiguration in Self-Organized Helical Superstructures Enabled by Chemical Kinetics of Chiral Molecular Motors

Dynamic controllability of self-organized helical superstructures in spatial dimensions is a key step to promote bottom-up artificial nanoarchitectures and functional devices for diverse applications in a variety of areas. Here, a light-driven chiral overcrowded alkene molecular motor with rod-like substituent is designed and synthesized, and its thermal isomerization reaction exhibits an increasing structural entropy effect on chemical kinetic analysis in anisotropic achiral liquid crystal host than that in isotropic organic liquid. Interestingly, the stimuli-directed angular orientation motion of helical axes in the self-organized helical superstructures doped with the chiral motors enables the dynamic reconfiguration between the planar (thermostationary) and focal conic (photostationary) states. The reversible micromorphology deformation processes are compatible with the free energy fluctuation of self-organized helical superstructures and the chemical kinetics of chiral motors under different conditions. Furthermore, stimuli-directed reversible nonmechanical beam steering is achieved in dynamic hidden periodic photopatterns with reconfigurable attributes prerecorded with a corresponding photomask and photoinduced polymerization.

Molecular machines open cell membranes

Beyond the more common chemical delivery strategies, several physical techniques are used to open the lipid bilayers of cellular membranes. These include using electric and magnetic fields, temperature, ultrasound or light to introduce compounds into cells, to release molecular species from cells or to selectively induce programmed cell death (apoptosis) or uncontrolled cell death (necrosis). More recently, molecular motors and switches that can change their conformation in a controlled manner in response to external stimuli have been used to produce mechanical actions on tissue for biomedical applications. Here we show that molecular machines can drill through cellular bilayers using their molecular-scale actuation, specifically nanomechanical action. Upon physical adsorption of the molecular motors onto lipid bilayers and subsequent activation of the motors using ultraviolet light, holes are drilled in the cell membranes. We designed molecular motors and complementary experimental protocols that use nanomechanical action to induce the diffusion of chemical species out of synthetic vesicles, to enhance the diffusion of traceable molecular machines into and within live cells, to induce necrosis and to introduce chemical species into live cells. We also show that, by using molecular machines that bear short peptide addends, nanomechanical action can selectively target specific cell-surface recognition sites. Beyond the in vitro applications demonstrated here, we expect that molecular machines could also be used in vivo, especially as their design progresses to allow two-photon, near-infrared and radio-frequency activation.

The Art of Building Small: From Molecular Switches to Motors (Nobel Lecture)

A journey into the nano-world: The ability to design, use and control motor-like functions at the molecular level sets the stage for numerous dynamic molecular systems. In his Nobel Lecture, B. L. Feringa describes the evolution of the field of molecular motors and explains how to program and control molecules by incorporating responsive and adaptive properties.

Artificial molecular motors

Artificial molecular motors take inspiration from motor proteins, nature's solution for achieving directional molecular level motion. An overview is given of the principal designs of artificial molecular motors and their modes of operation. We identify some key challenges remaining in the field.

Materials learning from life: concepts for active, adaptive and autonomous molecular systems

A broad overview of functional aspects in biological and synthetic out-of-equilibrium systems.

Metal ion binding by laterally non-symmetric macrobicyclic oxa–aza cryptands

Laterally non-symmetric oxa–aza cryptands are versatile supramolecular synthons.

On the possibility to accelerate the thermal isomerizations of overcrowded alkene-based rotary molecular motors with electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents

We employ computational methods to investigate the possibility of using electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents to reduce the free-energy barriers of the thermal isomerizations that limit the rotational frequencies achievable by synthetic overcrowded alkene-based molecular motors. Choosing as reference systems one of the fastest motors known to date and two variants thereof, we consider six new motors obtained by introducing electron-donating methoxy and dimethylamino or electron-withdrawing nitro and cyano substituents in conjugation with the central olefinic bond connecting the two (stator and rotator) motor halves. Performing density functional theory calculations, we then show that electron-donating (but not electron-withdrawing) groups at the stator are able to reduce the already small barriers of the reference motors by up to 18 kJ mol(-1). This result outlines a possible strategy for improving the rotational frequencies of motors of this kind. Furthermore, exploring the origin of the catalytic effect, it is found that electron-donating groups exert a favorable steric influence on the thermal isomerizations, which is not manifested by electron-withdrawing groups. This finding suggests a new mechanism for controlling the critical steric interactions of these motors. Graphical Abstract The introduction of electron-donating groups in one of the fastest rotary molecular motors known to date is found to reduce the free-energy barriers of the thermal steps that limit the rotational frequencies by up to 18 kJ mol(-1).

On the Role of Viscosity in the Eyring Equation

Transition-state theory allows for the characterization of kinetic processes in terms of enthalpy and entropy of activation by using the Eyring equation. However, for reactions in solution, it fails to take the change of viscosity of solvents with temperature into account. A second-generation unidirectional rotary molecular motor was used as a probe to study the effects of temperature-dependent viscosity changes upon unimolecular thermal isomerization processes. By combining the free-volume model with transition-state theory, a modified version of the Eyring equation was derived, in which the rate is expressed in terms of both temperature and viscosity.

Ferrocene-containing non-interlocked molecular machines

Ferrocene is chemically robust and readily functionalized which enables its facile incorporation into more complex molecular systems. This coupled with ferrocene's reversible redox properties and ability to function as a “molecular ball bearing” has led to the use of ferrocene as a component in wide range of non-interlocked synthetic molecular machine systems.

Solvent effects on the thermal isomerization of a rotary molecular motor

Solvent effects on a thermal isomerization process are explored using an exceptionally large data set and statistical analysis.

Photo-powered stretchable nano-containers based on well-defined vesicles formed by an overcrowded alkene switch

A novel photo-responsive nano-container was successfully constructed based on well-defined vesicles formed by an amphiphilic overcrowded alkene switch.

Unimolecular Submersible Nanomachines. Synthesis, Actuation, and Monitoring

Unimolecular submersible nanomachines (USNs) bearing light-driven motors and fluorophores are synthesized. NMR experiments demonstrate that the rotation of the motor is not quenched by the fluorophore and that the motor behaves in the same manner as the corresponding motor without attached fluorophores. No photo or thermal decomposition is observed. Through careful design of control molecules with no motor and with a slow motor, we found using single molecule fluorescence correlation spectroscopy that only the molecules with fast rotating speed (MHz range) show an enhancement in diffusion by 26% when the motor is fully activated by UV light. This suggests that the USN molecules give ∼9 nm steps upon each motor actuation. A non-unidirectional rotating motor also results in a smaller, 10%, increase in diffusion. This study gives new insight into the light actuation of motorized molecules in solution.

Light and heat control over secondary structure and amyloid-like fiber formation in an overcrowded-alkene-modified Trp zipper

The external photocontrol over peptide folding, by the incorporation of molecular photoswitches into their structure, provides a powerful tool to study biological processes. However, it is limited so far to switches that exhibit only a rather limited geometrical change upon photoisomerization and that show thermal instability of the photoisomer. Here we describe the use of an overcrowded alkene photoswitch to control a model β-hairpin peptide. This photoresponsive unit undergoes a large conformational change and has two thermally stable isomers which has major influence on the secondary structure and the aggregation of the peptide, permitting the phototriggered formation of amyloid-like fibrils.

Isatin phenylhydrazones: anion enhanced photochromic behaviour

The photochemical properties of two basic easily synthesized isatin N(2)-phenylhydrazones were investigated. Contrary to the corresponding isatin N(2)-diphenylhydrazones, only Z-isomers were isolated from the reaction mixtures during the synthesis due to their stabilization by intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Although the presence of the C=N double bond creates conditions for the formation of a simple on-off photoswitch, the low photochemical quantum yield and particularly the low switching amplitude in absorbance hamper their photochromic applications. However, the addition of strongly basic anions to phenylhydrazone solutions leads to isatin NH group deprotonation and creates a new diazene T-type Vis-Vis photochromic system with sufficiently separated absorption maxima. Interestingly, although the thermally stable A-form is also photostable in ambient light, its irradiation with a stronger LED source leads to thermally unstable B-form formation which rapidly isomerizes back to the corresponding A-form. The process is reversible and switching cycles can be repeated in both directions. The important advantages of this two-component organic chromophore-inorganic anion photochromic system are its easy synthesis, easy handling due to its insensitivity to room light, easy further structural modification and reversibility. The corresponding photochemical quantum yield, however, remains relatively low (Φ ∼ 0.001). The theoretically calculated properties are in agreement with the obtained experimental results and support the proposed reaction mechanism.

Controlling Motion at the Nanoscale: Rise of the Molecular Machines

As our understanding and control of intra- and intermolecular interactions evolve, ever more complex molecular systems are synthesized and assembled that are capable of performing work or completing sophisticated tasks at the molecular scale. Commonly referred to as molecular machines, these dynamic systems comprise an astonishingly diverse class of motifs and are designed to respond to a plethora of actuation stimuli. In this Review, we outline the conditions that distinguish simple switches and rotors from machines and draw from a variety of fields to highlight some of the most exciting recent examples of opportunities for driven molecular mechanics. Emphasis is placed on the need for controllable and hierarchical assembly of these molecular components to display measurable effects at the micro-, meso-, and macroscales. As in Nature, this strategy will lead to dramatic amplification of the work performed via the collective action of many machines organized in linear chains, on functionalized surfaces, or in three-dimensional assemblies.

Dynamic control of chirality in phosphine ligands for enantioselective catalysis

Chirality plays a fundamental role in biology and chemistry and the precise control of chirality in a catalytic conversion is a key to modern synthesis most prominently seen in the production of pharmaceuticals. In enantioselective metal-based catalysis, access to each product enantiomer is commonly achieved through ligand design with chiral bisphosphines being widely applied as privileged ligands. Switchable phosphine ligands, in which chirality is modulated through an external trigger signal, might offer attractive possibilities to change enantioselectivity in a catalytic process in a non-invasive manner avoiding renewed ligand synthesis. Here we demonstrate that a photoswitchable chiral bisphosphine based on a unidirectional light-driven molecular motor, can be used to invert the stereoselectivity of a palladium-catalysed asymmetric transformation. It is shown that light-induced changes in geometry and helicity of the switchable ligand enable excellent selectivity towards the racemic or individual enantiomers of the product in a Pd-catalysed desymmetrization reaction.

Macroscopic contraction of a gel induced by the integrated motion of light-driven molecular motors

Making molecular machines that can be useful in the macroscopic world is a challenging long-term goal of nanoscience. Inspired by the protein machinery found in biological systems, and based on the theoretical understanding of the physics of motion at the nanoscale, organic chemists have developed a number of molecules that can produce work by contraction or rotation when triggered by various external chemical or physical stimuli. In particular, basic molecular switches that commute between at least two thermodynamic minima and more advanced molecular motors that behave as dissipative units working far from equilibrium when fuelled with external energy have been reported. However, despite recent progress, the ultimate challenge of coordinating individual molecular motors in a continuous mechanical process that can have a measurable effect at the macroscale has remained elusive. Here, we show that by integrating light-driven unidirectional molecular rotors as reticulating units in a polymer gel, it is possible to amplify their individual motions to achieve macroscopic contraction of the material. Our system uses the incoming light to operate under far-from-equilibrium conditions, and the work produced by the motor in the photostationary state is used to twist the entangled polymer chains up to the collapse of the gel. Our design could be a starting point to integrate nanomotors in metastable materials to store energy and eventually to convert it.

Isatin N2-diphenylhydrazones: new easily synthesized Vis-Vis molecular photoswitches

An easily synthesized new type of Vis-Vis molecular switches based on hydrazone CN bond photoisomerization and isatin NH group deprotonation.