Gram scale synthesis of functionalized and optically pure Feringa's motors

In this paper we describe a diastereoselective synthesis of highly functionalized and optically pure Feringa's molecular motors. Two types of chemical functions are introduced on the upper and lower parts of the motor, and their orthogonality is investigated. The synthesis is performed on a gram scale and the diastereoisomers are easily separated by a straightforward column chromatography on silica gel. This general synthetic route is of particular interest to implement these molecular motors in devices and materials science.