Technomimetics

Technomimetics are molecular systems that can mimic man-made devices. The term was first introduced in 1997.Gakh, A.A.; Sachleben, R.A.; and Bryan, J.C. Molecular gearing systems. ChemTech, 1997, 27(11), 26-33. The current set of technomimetic moleculesRapenne, G. Synthesis of technomimetic molecules: Towards rotation control in single molecular machines and motors. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2005, 3, 1165-1169. includes motors,Fletcher, S. P.; Dumur, F.; Pollard, M. M.; Feringa, B. L. A Reversible, Unidirectional Molecular Rotary Motor Driven by Chemical Energy. Science, 2005, 310(5745), 80-82. rotors,Kottas, G.S.; Clarke, L. I.; Horinek, D.; Michl, J. Artificial molecular rotors. Chem. Rev. 2005, 105, 1281-1376. gears,Manzano, C.; Soe, W.-H.; Wong, H. S.; Ample, F.; Gourdon, A.; Chandrasekhar, N.; Joachim, C. Step-by-step rotation of a molecule-gear mounted on an atomic-scale axis. Nature Materials, 2009, 8, 576-579. gyroscopes,Shima, T.; Hampel, F.; Gladysz, J.A. Molecular Gyroscopes: Fe(CO)3 and Fe(CO)2-(NO)+ Rotators Encased in Three-Spoke Stators; Facile Assembly via Alkene Metatheses. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2004, 43, 5537-5540. tweezers,Chen C.-W.; Whitlock H. W. Molecular Tweezers - A Simple-Model of Bifunctional Intercalation. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1978, 100, 4921–4922. and other molecular devices. Technomimetics can be considered as the essential components of molecular machines and have the primary use in molecular nanotechnology.

See also Molecular tweezers References