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Homogeneous Catalysts with a Mechanical (“Machine‐like”) Action
Author(s) -
Swiegers Gerhard F.,
Huang Junhua,
Brimblecombe Robin,
Chen Jun,
Dismukes G. Charles,
MuellerWesterhoff Ulrich T.,
Spiccia Leone,
Wallace Gordon G.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.200802396
Subject(s) - catalysis , action (physics) , homogeneous , mimicry , mechanical energy , work (physics) , activation energy , chemistry , molecule , chemical physics , molecular dynamics , computational chemistry , materials science , nanotechnology , thermodynamics , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , ecology , power (physics) , biology
Molecular machines? The factors involved in and the fundamental nature of a “mechanical” action within molecular catalysis is explored in detail. Such mechanical homogeneous catalysts are rare but not unknown (see graphic). The spatial and temporal nature of their catalytic action is considered. Potential implications for mimicry of enzymes are discussed.Chemical reactions may be controlled by either: 1) the minimum threshold energy that must be overcome during collisions between reactant molecules/atoms (the activation energy, E a ), or: 2) the rate at which reactant collisions occur (the collision frequency, A )—for reactions with low E a . Reactions of type 2 are governed by the physical, mechanical interaction of the reactants. Such mechanical processes are unusual, but not unknown in molecular catalysts. In this work we examine the machine‐like nature of the action in various abiological mechanical catalysts and consider the implications for mimicry of biological catalysts.