Issue 45, 2016

Mechanically induced cis-to-trans isomerization of carbon–carbon double bonds using atomic force microscopy

Abstract

Cis-to-trans isomerization of carbon–carbon double bonds can be induced by the application of mechanical force. Using single molecule force spectroscopy by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM) we pulled polymer molecules which contained cis double bonds in the backbone. In the force versus extension profiles of these polymers, a sudden extension increase is observed which is due to the conversion of shorter cis isomers into longer trans isomers. The added length to the polymer results in relaxation in probed force. We find that the isomerization occurs at forces of 800 ± 60 pN, independent of AFM tip and solid substrate chemistries. Investigation of similar polymers which exclusively contained single bonds in the backbone showed no evidence of a similar transition.

Graphical abstract: Mechanically induced cis-to-trans isomerization of carbon–carbon double bonds using atomic force microscopy

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Aug 2016
Accepted
21 Oct 2016
First published
21 Oct 2016
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2016,18, 31202-31210

Mechanically induced cis-to-trans isomerization of carbon–carbon double bonds using atomic force microscopy

M. Radiom, P. Kong, P. Maroni, M. Schäfer, A. F. M. Kilbinger and M. Borkovec, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2016, 18, 31202 DOI: 10.1039/C6CP05696B

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