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Synfacts 2006(3): 0223-0223  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-931931
Synthesis of Materials and Unnatural Products
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Making a Faster Molecular Rotor

Contributor(s): Timothy M. Swager, Trisha L. Andrew
D. Pijper, R. A. van Delden, A. Meetsma, B. L. Feringa*
University of Groningen, The Netherlands
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Publication History

Publication Date:
21 February 2006 (online)

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Significance

An alternating series of reactions comprised of the photochemical and thermal isomerizations of a chiral, helical molecule is exploited to mimic the motion of a mechanical rotor. The presence of a Boc-protected amine and a ketone moiety separated by a conjugated bridge greatly accelerates the speed of the rotor by increasing the rate of the irreversible thermal rotation steps.