The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2016 is awarded to Jean-Pierre Sauvage, J. Fraser Stoddart, and Ben L. Feringa for their work in developing “molecular machines.” The trio, who will split the prize equally, designed and built molecules that can be controlled to accomplish a task once they’re supplied with energy.

Sauvage is being recognized for his creation of a catenane, two ring-shaped molecules linked together as a chain, since this configuration exhibits the weaker mechanical bond needed for the parts of a molecular machine to move independent of one another. Stoddart is honored for developing rotaxanes, molecular rings threaded onto molecular axles, which he used to develop molecular lifts, muscles, and computer chips. Feringa is recognized for building the first molecular motor.

Jean-Pierre Sauvage, J. Fraser Stoddart, and Ben L. Feringa all have strong ties to ACS:

“ACS would like to congratulate this year’s laureates on their eloquent use of chemistry to design and develop molecular machines that can, in a controlled manner, perform a multitude of critical functions,” says American Chemical Society, President Donna J. Nelson. “While this work is in its early stages, one can envision how the fields of medicine, energy storage and materials science could be revolutionized by this discovery.”

“It’s wonderful to see Stoddart and Feringa, who have published widely in Organic Letters, being recognized by the Nobel Committee. Stoddart has performed great service to ACS Publications as a former Associate Editor of Organic Letters and continues to serve on the journal’s Editorial Advisory Board,” says Organic Letters Editor-in-Chief Amos Smith.

Read highlighted open-access research from Jean-Pierre Sauvage, J. Fraser Stoddart, and Ben L. Feringa:

Synthesis of biscopper(I) [3]-catenates: multiring interlocked coordinating systems

Jean Pierre Sauvage, Jean Weiss

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1985, 107 (21), pp 6108–6110

DOI: 10.1021/ja00307a049

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A molecular shuttle

Pier Lucio Anelli, Neil Spencer, J. Fraser Stoddart

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1991, 113 (13), pp 5131–5133

DOI: 10.1021/ja00013a096

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Synthesis of a doubly interlocked [2]-catenane

Jean Francois Nierengarten, Christiane O. Dietrich-Buchecker, Jean Pierre Sauvage

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1994, 116 (1), pp 375–376

DOI: 10.1021/ja00080a045

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Electrochemically Triggered Swinging of a [2]-Catenate

Aude Livoreil, Christiane O. Dietrich-Buchecker, Jean-Pierre Sauvage

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1994, 116 (20), pp 9399–9400

DOI: 10.1021/ja00099a095

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A Switchable Hybrid [2]-Catenane Based on Transition Metal Complexation and π-Electron Donor−Acceptor Interactions

David B. Amabilino , Christiane O. Dietrich-Buchecker , Aude Livoreil , Lluïsa Pérez-García , Jean-Pierre Sauvage , and J. Fraser Stoddart

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1996, 118 (16), pp 3905–3913

DOI: 10.1021/ja954329+

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Electrochemically and Photochemically Driven Ring Motions in a Disymmetrical Copper [2]-Catenate

Aude Livoreil , Jean-Pierre Sauvage , Nicola Armaroli , Vincenzo Balzani , Lucia Flamigni , and Barbara Ventura

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1997, 119 (50), pp 12114–12124

DOI: 10.1021/ja9720826

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Molecular-Based Electronically Switchable Tunnel Junction Devices

C. Patrick Collier, Jan O. Jeppesen, Yi Luo , Julie Perkins, Eric W. Wong, James R. Heath, and J. Fraser Stoddart

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2001, 123 (50), pp 12632–12641

DOI: 10.1021/ja0114456

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The Art of Building Small: From Molecular Switches to Molecular Motors

Ben L. Feringa

J. Org. Chem., 2007, 72 (18), pp 6635–6652

DOI: 10.1021/jo070394d

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Reversible Photocontrol of Biological Systems by the Incorporation of Molecular Photoswitches

Wiktor Szymański, John M. Beierle, Hans A. V. Kistemaker, Willem A. Velema, and Ben L. Feringa

Chem. Rev., 2013, 113 (8), pp 6114–6178

DOI: 10.1021/cr300179f

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Asymmetric Synthesis of First Generation Molecular Motors

Thomas M. Neubauer, Thomas van Leeuwen, Depeng Zhao, Anouk S. Lubbe, Jos C. M. Kistemaker, and Ben L. Feringa

Org. Lett., 2014, 16 (16), pp 4220–4223

DOI: 10.1021/ol501925f

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Allosteric Regulation of the Rotational Speed in a Light-Driven Molecular Motor

Adele Faulkner, Thomas van Leeuwen, Ben L. Feringa, and Sander J. Wezenberg

J. Am. Chem. Soc., Article ASAP

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b06467

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Read more about the research of Jean-Pierre Sauvage, J. Fraser Stoddart, and Ben L. Feringa and the 2016 Nobel Prize in C&EN.