Light-driven rotary molecular motors

Abstract

Compounds of Formula ( 1 ) are disclosed: C b is a carbocyclic or heterocyclic group having an atom within the cyclic structure selected from C, N, Si, and C r and singly bound to A. A is CR, COR, CSR, CNR 2 , CCN, CCONR 2 , CNO 2 , CNNAr, CX′, or N. C r is a chromophore having a substantially planar cyclic structure. The compounds function as nanometer-scale rotary molecular motors powered and controlled by light energy. The design of the molecular motor devices is flexible so that the rotary direction, drive light wavelength, and other physical characteristics can be varied. The compounds can be chemically functionalized to allow it to be integrated into or attached to a variety of structures. The device can be used in applications where mechanical power, positional control, and information encoding are to be generated at the size scale of individual molecules.

1 . A method of using a compound as a molecular motor that can be driven by light to produce directional motion, comprising the step of:
 introducing light to a compound to produce directional motion, where the compound is defined by Formula (1):   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein:
 C b  is a carbocyclic or heterocyclic group wherein the atom within the cyclic structure is singly bound to A and selected from the group consisting of C, N, Si, and Sn; 
 A is CR, COR, CSR, CNR 2 , CCN, CCONR 2 , CNO 2 , CNNAr, CX′, or N, wherein Ar is aryl or heteroaryl and X′ is a halide; 
 R is H; substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 1 -C 18  alkyl; substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 2 -C 18  alkenyl; substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 2 -C 18  alkynyl; —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) 1-15 OH; —(OC 3 H 6 ) 1-15 OH; 
 
       substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, carbocycles or heterocycles; or 
       substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl; and
 C r  is a chromophore which has a substantially planar cyclic structure. 
 
     
     
         2 . A method of using a compound as a molecular motor that can be driven by light to produce directional motion, comprising the step of:
 introducing light to a compound to produce directional motion, where the compound is defined by formula (2):   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein:
 C b  is a carbocyclic or heterocyclic group wherein the atom within the cyclic structure is singly bound to A and selected from the group consisting C, N, Si, and Sn; 
 A is CR, COR, CSR, CNR 2 , CCN, CCONR 2 , CNO 2 , CNNAr, CX′, or N, wherein Ar is aryl or heteroaryl and X′ is a halide; 
 G is CR, CR 2 , C═CR 2 , C═O, C═S, C═NR, N, NR, O, or S; 
 n is 0, 1, or 2; 
 E is independently CH, CH 2 , N, NH, O, or S; 
 m is independently 0, 1, 2, or 3; 
 X is independently R 1 , SiR 1   3 , ═NR 1 , NR 1   2 , ═O, OR 1 , ═S, or SR 1 ; 
 Y is independently R 1 , SiR 1   3 , ═NR 1 , NR 1   2 , ═O, OR 1 , ═S, or SR 1 ; 
 q is independently 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; 
 R is independently H;
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 1 -C 18  alkyl; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 2 -C 18 alkenyl; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 1 -C 18  alkynyl; 
 —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) 1-15 OH; —(OC 3 H 6 ) 1-15 OH; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, carbocycles or heterocycles; or 
 substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl; and 
 
 R 1  is independently H;
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 1 -C 18  alkyl; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 2 -C 18  alkenyl; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 2 -C 18  alkynyl; 
 —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) 1-15 OH; —(OC 3 H 6 ) 1-15 OH; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, fused or unfused carbocycles 
 
 or heterocycles; or
 substituted or unsubstituted, fused or unfused aryl or heteroaryl; 
 
 wherein when R 1  is a cyclic structure the heteroatoms Si, N, O, or S within the definitions of X and Y may form part of the cyclic structure. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein C b  is a bi-cyclic carbocycle or heterocycle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein C b  is a tri-cyclic carbocycle or heterocycle. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein
 A is CR or N;   G is CR, CR 2 , N, NR, O, or S;   n is 0 or 1;   E is independently CH, CH 2 , N, NH, O, or S;   m is independently 1 or 2;   X is independently R 1 , ═NR NR 1   2 , OR 1 , ═S, or SR 1 ;   Y is independently R 1 , ═NR 1 , NR 1   2 , ═O, OR 1 , ═S, or SR 1 ;   q is independently 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;   R is independently H;
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 1 -C 9  alkyl; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 2 -C 9  alkenyl; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 2 -C 9  alkynyl; 
 —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) 1-7 OH; —(OC 3 H 6 ) 1-7 OH; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, carbocycles or heterocycles; or 
 substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl; and 
   R 1  is independently H;
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 1 -C 9  alkyl; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 2 -C 9  alkenyl; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 2 -C 9  alkynyl; 
 —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) 1-7 OH; —(OC 3 H 6 ) 1-7 OH; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, fused or unfused carbocycles 
   or heterocycles; or
 substituted or unsubstituted, fused or unfused aryl or heteroaryl; 
   wherein when R 1  is a cyclic structure the heteroatoms Si, N, O, or S within the definitions of X and Y may form part of the cyclic structure.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein
 A is CR;   G is CR, CR 2 , N, or NR;   n is 0 or 1;   E is independently CH, CH 2 , N, or NH;   each m is 1;   X is independently R 1 , NR 1   2 , or OR 1 , or SR 1 ;   Y is independently R 1 , NR 1   2 , or OR 1 ;   q is independently 0, 1, or 2;   R is independently H;
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 1 -C 5  alkyl; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 2 -C 5  alkenyl; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 2 -C 5  alkynyl; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, carbocycle or heterocycle 
   selected from the group consisting of cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl,   pyrrolidinyl, piperidyl, imidazolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, pyrazolinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, chromanyl, indolinyl, and their corresponding iso-forms; or
 substituted or unsubstituted fused or unfused aryl or heteroaryl selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, furyl, benzofuranyl, pyranyl, pyrazinyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, indolyl, indolizinyl, indoazolyl, purinyl, quinolyl, thiazolyl, phthalazinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl, benzothienyl, anthryl, phenathtryl, and their corresponding iso-forms; and 
   R 1  is independently H;
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 1 -C 4  alkyl; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 2 -C 4  alkenyl; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 2 -C 4  alkynyl; 
 substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, fused or unfused carbocycles 
   or heterocycles selected from the group consisting of cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidyl, imidazolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, pyrazolinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, chromanyl, indolinyl, and their corresponding iso-forms; or
 substituted or unsubstituted fused or unfused aryl or heteroaryl selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, furyl, benzofuranyl, pyranyl, pyrazinyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyridyl, Pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, indolyl, indolizinyl, indoazolyl, purinyl, quinolyl, thiazolyl, phthalazinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl, benzothienyl, anthryl, phenathtryl, and their corresponding iso-forms. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein
 A is CR;   G is CR, CR 2 , N, or NR;   n is 0 or 1;   E is independently CH, CH 2 , N, or NH;   each m is 1;   X is independently R 1 , NR 1   2 , or OR 1 ;   Y is independently R 1 , NR 1   2 , or OR 1 ;   q is independently 0, 1, or 2;   R is independently H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, or pyridinyl; and   R 1  is independently H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, or pyridinyl.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the moiety of formula (2) defined by 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       is selected from the group consisting of 4H-cyclopenta-[def]phenanthrene, 7H-dibenzo[c,d]fluorene, 13H-dibenzo[a,i]fluorene, 13H-dibenzo[a,g]fluorene, 11H-benzo[a]fluorene, 7H-benzo[c]fluorene, and derivatives of hexafulvenes and heptafulvenes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein formula (2) has the structure: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein Z is substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 3 -C 9  alkylene; substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 3 -C 9  alkenylene; substituted or unsubstituted, branched or straight chain C 3 -C 9  alkynylene; —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) 1-3 O—; —(OC 3 H 6 ) 1-3 O—; substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, divalent carbocycles or heterocycles; or substituted or unsubstituted arylene or heteroarylene. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein formula (2) has the structure: