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Author(s) -
Ashton Peter R.,
Ballardini Roberto,
Balzani Vincenzo,
Credi Alberto,
Dress Klaus Ruprecht,
Ishow Eléna,
Kleverlaan Cornelis J.,
Kocian Oldrich,
Preece Jon A.,
Spencer Neil,
Stoddart J. Fraser,
Venturi Margherita,
Wenger Sabine
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3765(20001002)6:19<3475::aid-chem3475>3.0.co;2-5
Subject(s) - dumbbell , rotaxane , component (thermodynamics) , cover (algebra) , molecular switch , ring (chemistry) , molecular machine , spiropyran , physics , nanotechnology , chemistry , materials science , crystallography , molecule , photochromism , engineering , biology , crystal structure , mechanical engineering , supramolecular chemistry , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics , physiology , organic chemistry
The cover picture shows a molecular level abacus, based on a [2]rotaxane, driven by visible light. In solution illumination of the Ru II complex (the Ru atom shown in green) located at one extremity of the dumbbell component causes an electron transfer process; this ultimately leads to the motion of the ring component (yellow) along the dumbbell from the primary to a secondary recognition site (the pink and purple space‐filling models represent the PF $^{{-}}_{{6}}$ counterions). Although the photochemical mechanism employed requires the assistance of sacrificial reactants, an important step towards the construction of photodriven molecular machines has been made, and the goal of obtaining an artificial molecular motor powered exclusively by light seems not far off. This work is described in more detail by Balzani, Stoddart et al. on p. 3558 ff. The illustration was designed by Alberto Credi.