The Hydrolysis of the Anhydride of 2‐Cyano‐2‐phenylpropanoic Acid Triggers the Repeated Back and Forth Motions of an Acid–Base Operated Molecular Switch.

Biagini, Chiara; Capocasa, Giorgio; Cataldi, Valerio; Del Giudice, Daniele; Mandolini, Luigi; Di Stefano, Stefano

This work aimed to render phenomenologically autonomous the otherwise stepwise operation of a catenane‐based molecular switch, which is chemically triggered by the decarboxylation of 2‐cyano‐2‐phenylpropanoic acid (2). Given that any amount of 2 in stoichiometric excess with respect to the catenane is consumed in a side reaction, the authors resorted to the corresponding anhydride 5, the slow hydrolysis of which, due to adventitious water in dichloromethane, continuously produces in situ the actual fuel 2. As a consequence, the machine does not require a reloading after each cycle, but switches back and forth as long as fuel is present.

MOLECULAR switches; HYDROLYSIS; DICHLOROMETHANE; MOTION; DECARBOXYLATION; FUEL

Chemistry - A European Journal, 2019, Vol 25, Issue 66, p15205

0947-6539

Academic Journal

10.1002/chem.201904048