Participants/Project Abstracts
Summer 2007 Bioanalytical Science REU Participants
SYNTHESIS
OF MOLECULAR WALKERS COMPRISED OF POLYCYCLICAROMATIC QUINONES
Nicholas
S. Holtgrewe, Robert T. Carp, Dr. Michael Marsella
Department
of Chemistry, University of California – Riverside, UCR 92521, and Truman
State University, Kirksville, MO, 63501
Abstract
This project focuses
on the synthesis of new molecular walkers. Molecular walkers are molecules that can diffuse linearly
("walk") across a Cu[111] surface. These walkers are composed of flat, polycyclic aromatic quinones,
varying by number of rings and functionality. The oxygen atoms of the quinone moieties serve as the
walker's feet, preferring to occupy the pockets that are formed from four Cu
atoms (hollow sites on the Cu[111] surface). The walking motion results from the oxygen atoms of the
quinone moieties alternating occupancy in hollow sites. Speed and motion of the walkers is a
function of the number of oxygen atoms present within the system, as well as
other peripheral functionality and surface area. Herein we report the synthesis of potential molecular
walkers, each varying according to the aforementioned parameters that are
suspected to control mobility on a Cu surface.
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