Marcos V, Stephens AJ, Jaramillo-Garcia J, Nussbaumer AL, Woltering SL, Valero A,
Lemonnier J.-F, Vitorica-Yrezabal IJ, Leigh DA * University of Manchester, UK
Allosteric Initiation and Regulation of Catalysis with a Molecular Knot.
Science 2016;
352: 1555-1559
Key words
molecular knots - catalysis - allosteric initiation and regulation
Significance
Molecular knots are found in nature and, although synthetic knots have been synthesized,
the benefits of knotted molecules remain unclear. In this report, the authors synthesize
a molecular knot, perform a metal exchange, and are able to establish a catalytic
cycle that can be allosterically initiated and regulated.
Comment
The synthesis of the molecular knot is high yielding and both removal of metals and
exchange is possible without uncoiling of the structure. The authors show catalytic
hydrolysis, Michael addition, and Diels–Alder reactions.
