Molecular machines designed to perform mechanical-like movements are composed of different functional components by bottom-up approach. There are two categories of molecular machines, which are molecular motors and molecular switches. The difference between a motor and a switch is whether the molecule goes to the original state unidirectionally or not. A molecular motor can undergo unidirectional rotation or translation from one state to another. On the other hand, a molecular switch can switch among two or multiple states but it does not undergo unidirectional motions or carry out works.
Our laboratory is engaged in the research and development of light- and electric energy-gated molecular switches. We select the rigid and nonplanar pentiptycene scaffold and several light or redox responsive elements for the design of molecular switches, which display distinct mechanical states. Thus far, we have developed a series of light- and /or redox-driven molecular brakes with excellent brake efficiency and switching ability. We aim to design more efficient and diverse molecular machines.
Our laboratory is engaged in the research and development of light- and electric energy-gated molecular switches. We select the rigid and nonplanar pentiptycene scaffold and several light or redox responsive elements for the design of molecular switches, which display distinct mechanical states. Thus far, we have developed a series of light- and /or redox-driven molecular brakes with excellent brake efficiency and switching ability. We aim to design more efficient and diverse molecular machines.
- Kao, C.-Y.; Lee, I-T.; Ch. Prabhakar; Yang, J.-S. "Light- and Redox-Gated Molecular Brakes Consisting of a Pentiptycene Rotor and an Indole Pad" J. Chin. Chem. Soc. 2014, 61, 507-516. (an invited article with cover picture of the May issue)
- Chen, Y.-C.; Sun, W.-T.; Lu, H.-F.; Chao, I; Huang, G.-C.; Lin, Y.-C.; Huang, S.-L.; Huang, H.-H.; Lin, Y.-D.; Yang, J.-S. “A Pentiptycene-Derived Molecular Brake: Photochemical E → Z and Electrochemical Z → E Switching of an Enone Module" Chem. Eur. J. 2011, 17, 1193-1200.
- Yang, J.-S.; Huang, Y.-T.; Ho, J.-H.; Sun, W.-T.; Huang, H.-H.; Lin, Y.-C.; Huang, S.-J.; Huang, S.-L.; Lu, H.-F.; Chao, I. "A Pentiptycene-Derived Light-Driven Molecular Brake" Org. Lett. 2008, 10, 2279-2282.