Dynamics of the alkyne → copper(i) interaction and its use in a heteroleptic four-component catalytic rotor

Abstract

The HETPYNE (HETeroleptic Phenanthroline and alkYNE metal) and DABCO·(zinc porphyrin)2 interactions were used to assemble the four-component nanorotor ROT-1 that exhibited a highly dynamic alkyne → copper(i) dissociation (k298 = 240 kHz) at 298 K. Quantitative click reaction transformed ROT-1 into the new rotor ROT-2 (k298 = 77 kHz) with a triazole → copper(i) linkage thus opening perspectives for bioorthogonal click strategies to biohybrid machinery.