Lecture: "Much ado about knotting"
Professor David A. Leigh
Royal Society Research Professor
Sir Samuel Hall Chair of Chemistry
Department of Chemistry
The University of Manchester, UK
Professor David A. Leigh is a Guest Lecturer of the Joshua Jortner Distinguished Lectures in Chemistry Endowed by Raymond and Beverly Sackler for the academic year 2022/2023.
Abstract:
Knots are important structural features in DNA and some proteins, and play a significant role in the physical properties of both natural and synthetic polymers.1 Although billions of prime knots are known to mathematics, few have been achieved through chemical synthesis.2 Here we will discuss the latest progress from our laboratory, including the synthesis of the most complex molecular knots and links (catenanes) to date3-9 and the introduction of 2D molecular weaving10.
References [1] "Molecular knots", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 56, 11166 (2017). [2] "Template synthesis of molecular knots", Chem. Soc. Rev. 42, 1700 (2013). [3] "A synthetic molecular pentafoil knot", Nat. Chem. 4, 15 (2012). [4] "A Star of David catenane", Nat. Chem. 6, 978 (2014). [5] "Allosteric initiation and regulation of catalysis with a molecular knot", Science 352, 1555 (2016). [6] "Braiding a molecular knot with eight crossings", Science 355, 159 (2017). [7] "Stereoselective synthesis of a composite knot with nine crossings", Nat. Chem. 10, 1083 (2018). [8] "A molecular endless (74) knot", Nat. Chem. 13, 117 (2021). [9] "Vernier template synthesis of molecular knots", Science 375, 1035 (2022). [10] "Self-assembly of a layered two-dimensional molecularly woven fabric", Nature 588, 429 (2020).
