Transient chirality inversion during racemization of a helical cobalt(III) complex

A complex response to flipping a switch

15 September 2022

A molecular system that can switch between a mainly right-handed mixture to a mainly left-handed one could prove useful for developing time-programmable switchable materials.

Responsive molecules that alter their molecular structures in response to a stimulus are attracting interest for use in functional systems — both natural and artificial ones. When stimulated, most such systems display a straightforward exponential change with time from one structure to another. But systems with more complex responses are desirable for applications requiring more sophisticated temporal responses.

Now, three researchers from Kanazawa University in Japan have demonstrated a molecular system that flips from consisting of mainly right-handed molecules to having mainly left-handed ones before forming a 50:50 mixture of both — a pendulum-like response.

Such systems made up of single molecules that display complex time responses will be useful for realizing time-programmable switches for controlling physical properties and chemical reactivities in a time-dependent manner, the researchers consider.

Supported content

References

1. PNAS 119, e2113237119 (2022). doi: 10.1073/pnas.2113237119