Nanovehicles Equipped with Triptycene-Fused Unidirectional Light-Driven Molecular Motors

The integration of molecular motors into increasingly complex functional architectures while preserving their dynamic behavior represents an important challenge in the development of molecular machinery. Herein, we report a modular synthetic platform for motorized nanovehicles based on a triptycene-fused overcrowded alkene molecular motor, orthogonal axles, trimethyladamantane-based wheels, and an optional flagellum-like appendage. Three nanovehicle architectures of increasing structural complexity were assembled using a convergent synthetic strategy. The photochemical and thermal behavior of the parent molecular motor was investigated by NMR and UV–vis spectroscopy, supported by X-ray crystallography and density functional theory calculations, and shown to proceed through a unidirectional four-stage rotary cycle. Importantly, the characteristic photoisomerization and thermal helix inversion processes were retained after incorporation of the motor into the nanovehicle framework. Furthermore, selected nanovehicle was immobilized on gold surfaces, where differential UV–vis spectroscopy demonstrated preservation of the photochemical and thermal responses observed in solution. The close correspondence between solution-phase and surface-confined behavior indicates effective decoupling of the motor unit from the metallic substrate by the trimethyladamantane wheels. These results establish a versatile platform for the construction of motorized nanovehicles and provide a foundation for future studies of molecular machines operating at interfaces.