# [1,n]-Metal migrations for directional translational motion at the molecular level

## TL;DR

The paper presents a new method for achieving directional motion at the molecular level using metal migrations along a polyaromatic track.

## Contribution

The novelty lies in using carbon-to-carbon metal migration combined with hydrocarbons to enable autonomous motion of a metal center.

## Key findings

- Carbon-to-carbon metal migration enables dynamic association along a polyaromatic track.
- Incorporating a simple hydrocarbon allows for directional translational motion of a metal center.
- This system mimics the motion of natural motor proteins at the molecular level.

## Abstract

The controlled translational motion displayed by nature’s motor proteins underpins a wealth of processes integral to life, from organelle transport to muscle contraction. The motor proteins move along one dimensional cytoskeletal tracks, with their motion characterised by high association of the enzyme to the biopolymer combined with highly dynamic motion along the track. Here we introduce carbon-to-carbon metal migration as a platform for dynamic association and show how such migrations, in combination with the incorporation of a simple hydrocarbon, can be harnessed to achieve autonomous directional translational motion of a metal centre along the length of a polyaromatic track.

Here, the authors introduce carbon-to-carbon metal migration as a platform for dynamic association and show how such migrations, in combination with the incorporation of a simple hydrocarbon, can be harnessed to achieve autonomous directional translational motion of a metal centre along the length of a polyaromatic thread.