Molecular machines: synthesis and characterization of two prototypes of molecular wheelbarrows

Technomimetic molecules are molecules designed to imitate macroscopic objects at the molecular level, also transposing the motions that these objects are able to undergo. This article focuses on the synthesis of two polyaromatic hydrocarbons designed by analogy with macroscopic wheelbarrows. The molecular wheelbarrows are synthesized following a modular strategy based on sequential double Knoevenagel and Diels–Alder reactions. Our strategy allowed to easily vary the chemical nature of the handles, which is crucial for subsequent manipulation with an STM tip.