Issue 2, 2020

Shapeshifting molecules: the story so far and the shape of things to come

Abstract

Shapeshifting molecules exhibit rapid constitutional dynamics while remaining stable, isolable molecules, making them promising artificial scaffolds from which to explore complex biological systems and create new functional materials. However, their structural complexity presents challenges for designing their syntheses and understanding their equilibria. This minireview showcases (1) recent applications of highly dynamic shapeshifting molecules in sensing and distinguishing complex small molecules and (2) detailed insights into the adaptation of tractable bistable systems to changes in their local environment. The current status of this field is summarised and its future prospects are discussed.

Graphical abstract: Shapeshifting molecules: the story so far and the shape of things to come

Article information

Article type
Minireview
Submitted
30 Okt 2019
Accepted
04 Dez 2019
First published
05 Dez 2019
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2020,11, 324-332

Shapeshifting molecules: the story so far and the shape of things to come

A. N. Bismillah, B. M. Chapin, B. A. Hussein and P. R. McGonigal, Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 324 DOI: 10.1039/C9SC05482K

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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