Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
A challenge in contemporary chemistry is the realization of artificial molecular machines that can perform work in solution on their environments. Here, we report on the design and production of a supramolecular flashing energy ratchet capable of processing chemical fuel generated by redox changes to drive a ring in one direction relative to a dumbbell toward an energetically uphill state. The kinetics of the reaction pathway juxtapose a low energy 2pseudorotaxane that forms under equilibrium conditions with a high energy, metastable 2pseudorotaxane which resides away from equilibrium.
Cheng et al. (Thu,) studied this question.