(Nano)mechanical Motion Triggered by Metal Coordination: from Functional Devices to Networked Multicomponent Catalytic Machinery

A look at the elegance and efficiency of biological machines readily reveals that Nature masters the full gamut of chemical interactions to compose masterpieces of the living world. The present analysis singles out metal coordination for the actuation of nanomechanical motion. According to our analysis, metal coordination has a manifold of rewards, putting it primo loco in opportunities for putting nanomechanical systems into action: (i) its strength and dynamics can be properly modulated and fine-tuned by the choice of metal, redox state, and ligand(s), (ii) the high directionality of the interaction allows reliable design, and (iii) the emergence of novel self-sorting algorithms allows multiple of these interactions to be working in parallel. On top of all these advantages, intermolecular metal-ion translocation is a well-known factor in biological signaling. These benefits have recently proven their usefulness in the operation of networked devices and in overcoming the limitations of traditional stand-alone molecular systems.