Conformational polymorphism in a heteromolecular single crystal leads to concerted movement akin to collective rack-and-pinion gears at the molecular level

Anatoliy N Sokolov; Dale C Swenson; Leonard R MacGillivray

doi:10.1073/pnas.0706117105

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Conformational polymorphism in a heteromolecular single crystal leads to concerted movement akin to collective rack-and-pinion gears at the molecular level

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Conformational polymorphism in a heteromolecular single crystal leads to concerted movement akin to collective rack-and-pinion gears at the molecular level

Anatoliy N Sokolov, Dale C Swenson and Leonard R MacGillivray

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.105(6), pp.1794-1797

02/12/2008

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0706117105

PMCID: PMC2542860

PMID: 18245387

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Abstract

We describe a heteromolecular single crystal that exhibits three reversible and concerted reorganizations upon heating and cooling. The products of the reorganizations are conformational polymorphs. The reorganizations are postulated to proceed through three motions: ( i ) alkyl translations, ( ii ) olefin rotations, and ( iii ) rotational tilts. The motions are akin to rack-and-pinion gears at the molecular level. The rack-like movement is based on expansions and compressions of alkyl chains that are coupled with pinion-like 180° rotations of olefins. To accommodate the movements, phenol and thiophene components undergo rotational tilts about intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The movements are collective, being propagated in close-packed repeating units. This discovery marks a step to understanding how organic solids can support the development of crystalline molecular machines and devices through correlated and collective movements.

cocrystal

hydrogen bond

molecular machine

Physical Sciences

solid-state chemistry

supramolecular chemistry

Details

Title: Subtitle: Conformational polymorphism in a heteromolecular single crystal leads to concerted movement akin to collective rack-and-pinion gears at the molecular level
Creators: Anatoliy N Sokolov - Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1294
Dale C Swenson - Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1294
Leonard R MacGillivray - Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1294
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.105(6), pp.1794-1797
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0706117105
PMID: 18245387
PMCID: PMC2542860
NLM abbreviation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
ISSN: 0027-8424
eISSN: 1091-6490
Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
Language: English
Date published: 02/12/2008
Academic Unit: Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics; Chemistry
Record Identifier: 9984216680402771

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