Synthesis of light-driven motorized nanocars for linear trajectories and their detailed NMR structural determination

The design and synthesis of a fluorescent light-driven motorized nanocar with a linear geometry is described. Due to its structural design, the nanocar is present as a mixture of two photo-interconvertible diastereomers. An extensive and detailed NMR study allowed the full assignment of the chemical shifts of the two diastereomers in the mixture. The nanocar is expected to translate in a linear motion due to the light-driven motor providing a paddle-wheel like propulsion. The quantum yield of 0.56 and the photostability of the dye make this nanocar suitable for future single-molecule fluorescence microscopy studies.

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