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Mechanically interlocked calix[4]arene dimers display reversible bond breakage under force

Abstract

The physics of nanoscopic systems is strongly governed by thermal fluctuations that produce significant deviations from the behaviour of large ensembles1,2. Stretching experiments of single molecules offer a unique way to study fundamental theories of statistical mechanics, as recently shown for the unzipping of RNA hairpins3. Here, we report a molecular design based on oligo calix[4]arene catenanes—calixarene dimers held together by 16 hydrogen bridges—in which loops within the molecules limit how far the calixarene nanocapsules can be separated. This mechanically locked structure tunes the energy landscape of dimers, thus permitting the reversible rupture and rejoining of the individual nanocapsules. Experimental evidence, supported by molecular dynamics simulations, reveals the presence of an intermediate state involving the concerted rupture of the 16 hydrogen bridges. Stochastic modelling using a three-well potential under external load allows reconstruction of the energy landscape.

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Figure 1: Mechanically interlocked oligomeric calix[4]arene dimers under external load using an atomic force microscope.
Figure 2: Stochastic nature of reversible unbinding of oligomeric calix[4]arene dimers as a function of pulling velocity.
Figure 3: Modelling of bond breakage and formation.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (SFB 625).

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Contributions

Y.R. and O.M. synthesized the calixarene molecules. M.J. and I.M. performed the atomic force experiments, T.M. and J.G. carried out the molecular dynamics simulations, G.D. did the stochastic modelling, and V.B., P.M. and A.J. conceived and designed the experiments.

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Correspondence to Andreas Janshoff.

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Janke, M., Rudzevich, Y., Molokanova, O. et al. Mechanically interlocked calix[4]arene dimers display reversible bond breakage under force. Nature Nanotech 4, 225–229 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2008.416

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