Rotational and constitutional dynamics of caged supramolecules

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Dec 14;107(50):21332-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1008991107. Epub 2010 Nov 22.

Abstract

The confinement of molecular species in nanoscale environments leads to intriguing dynamic phenomena. Notably, the organization and rotational motions of individual molecules were controlled by carefully designed, fully supramolecular host architectures. Here we use an open 2D coordination network on a smooth metal surface to steer the self-assembly of discrete trimeric guest units, identified as noncovalently bound dynamers. Each caged chiral supramolecule performs concerted, chirality-preserving rotary motions within the template honeycomb pore, which are visualized and quantitatively analyzed using temperature-controlled scanning tunneling microscopy. Furthermore, with higher thermal energies, a constitutional system dynamics appears, which is revealed by monitoring repetitive switching events of the confined supramolecules' chirality signature, reflecting decay and reassembly of the caged units.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Metals / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Metals