Mechano(-)Synthesis

Abstract

Mechano(-)synthesis refers a hypothetical chemical synthesis in which reaction outcomes are determined by the use of mechanical constraints to direct reactive molecules to specific molecular sites. In a Mech-synth process reactive molecules would be attached to molecular mechanical systems, and their encounters would result from mechanical motions bringing them together in planned sequences, positions, and orientations. Mech-synth strongly favoring desired reactions by holding reactants together in optimal orientations for many molecular vibration cycles. In biology, the ribosome provides an example of a programmable Mech-synth device. There are presently no chemical syntheses which fully achieve this aim. Some atomic placement has been achieved with scanning tunnelling microscopes.