1. Cold Snapshot of a Molecular Rotary Motor Captured by High-Resolution Rotational Spectroscopy.
- Author
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Domingos, Sérgio R., Cnossen, Arjen, Buma, Wybren J., Browne, Wesley R., Feringa, Ben L., and Schnell, Melanie
- Subjects
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MOLECULAR rotation , *MOLECULAR motor proteins , *ROTATIONAL transitions (Molecular physics) , *FOURIER transform spectroscopy , *MOLECULAR conformation , *QUANTUM chemistry - Abstract
We present the first high-resolution rotational spectrum of an artificial molecular rotary motor. By combining chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy and supersonic expansions, we captured the vibronic ground-state conformation of a second-generation motor based on chiral, overcrowded alkenes. The rotational constants were accurately determined by fitting more than 200 rotational transitions in the 2-4 GHz frequency range. Evidence for dissociation products allowed for the unambiguous identification and characterization of the isolated motor components. Experiment and complementary quantum-chemical calculations provide accurate geometrical parameters for the C27H20 molecular motor, the largest molecule investigated by high-resolution microwave spectroscopy to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
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