Control of light-driven fast internal rotation in crystalline molecular gyroscopes: Theoretical design, synthesis, and measurement

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15KT0138
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 特設分野
• Research Field: Transition State Control
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Kanno Manabu 東北大学, 理学研究科, 助教 (30598090)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 瀬高 渉 首都大学東京, 都市環境科学研究科, 准教授 (60321775)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KONO HIROHIKO 東北大学, 大学院理学研究科, 教授 (70178226)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-07-10 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 遷移状態 / 結晶 / 動的機能分子 / ナノテクノロジー / テラヘルツ波 / 分子動力学計算

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Beyond the limitations of conventional transition-state studies focusing on small molecular systems in a gas or solution, we have developed a control method for transition states of chemical reactions or molecular motions in a solid (crystal). Crystalline molecular gyroscopes have an aromatic ring (rotor) encased in an exterior framework (stator) and the ring rotates around the bond axis that bridges the rotor and stator. Manipulating the fast internal rotation in molecular gyroscopes will give birth to novel optical materials. We successfully reproduced the crystal structures of molecular gyroscopes with a polar rotor and a cage-like stator, and theoretically evaluated their rotational barriers. We also performed the simulations of thermally induced and light-driven internal rotations in the molecular gyroscopes and found that continuous rotation can be achieved in several ns after the initiation of exposure to infrared lasers.

Free Research Field

化学