Selective and reversible interconversion of nanosliders commanded by remote control via metal-ion signaling

Interconversion between multicomponent slider-on-deck and palladium capsule: regulation of catalysis and encapsulation

When the slider-on-deck [Cu3(1)(2)]3+ and guest G were treated with palladium(II) ions, the biped 2 was released from [Cu3(1)(2)]3+ generating the nanocage [Pd2(2)4(G)]4+ with guest G being encapsulated (NetState-II). This transformation that was reversed by the addition of DMAP enabled modulation of both the overall fluorescence and the activity of copper(I) catalyzing an aza Hopf cyclization.

Proton transfer network with luminescence display controls OFF/ON catalysis that generates a high-speed slider-on-deck

A three-component network for OFF/ON catalysis was built from a protonated nanoswitch and a luminophore. Its activation by addition of silver(i) triggered the proton-catalyzed formation of a biped and the assembly of a fast slider-on-deck (k ₂₉₈ = 540 kHz).

Self-sorting assembly of artificial building blocks

Self-assembly to build high-level structures, which is ubiquitous in living systems, has captured the imagination of scientists, striving to emulate the intricacy, homogeneity and versatility of the naturally occurring systems, and to pursue a similar level of organization in artificial building blocks. In particular, self-sorting assembly in multicomponent systems, based on the spontaneous recognition and consequent spatial aggregation of the same or interactive building units, is able to realize very complicated assembly behaviours, and usually results in multiple well-ordered products or hierarchical structures in a one-step manner. This highly efficient assembly strategy has attracted tremendous research attention in recent years, and numerous examples have been reported in artificial systems, particularly with supramolecular and polymeric building blocks. In the current review, we summarize the progress in recent years, and classify them into five main categories, based on their working mechanisms or principles. With the review of these strategies, we hope to provide not only some deep insights into this field, but also and more importantly, useful thoughts in the design and fabrication of self-sorting systems in the future.

Catalytic machinery in motion: Controlling catalysis via speed

Three 3-component copper(I)-based slider-on-deck systems served as catalysts for a click reaction showing a higher catalytic activity with increasing sliding speed. Upon addition of brake stones, the motion of the...

Toward Molecular Cybernetics - the Art of Communicating Chemical Systems

The emerging field of molecular cybernetics has the potential to widely broaden our perception of chemistry. Chemistry will develop beyond its current focus that is mainly concerned with single transformations, pure compounds, and/or defined mixtures. On this way, chemistry will become autonomous, networked and smart through communicating molecules each of which serves a control engineering purpose, like the set of wheels in the machinery of life. The present personal account describes our latest developments in this field.

Using multiple self-sorting for switching functions in discrete multicomponent systems

Over years self-sorting has developed into a powerful tool in supramolecular chemistry, for instance, to promote the error-free formation of intricate multicomponent assemblies. However, in order to use the enormous potential of self-sorting for sophisticated information processing more recent developments have focused on the reversible reconfiguration of multicomponent systems driven by multiple self-sorting protocols. The present mini review will provide an overview over the latest advancements in this field with a focus on reversibly switchable functions in discrete supramolecular systems.

Reversible switching from a three- to a nine-fold degenerate dynamic slider-on-deck through catenation

Two dynamic slider-on-deck assemblies, i.e. a two-component threefold degenerate (k₂₉₈ = 34.9 kHz) and a catenated three-component ninefold degenerate (k₂₉₈ = 27.9 kHz) system with allosteric effects on the sliding rates, were quantitatively interconverted.