Nanoputian

Nanoputians are a series of organic molecules having a structure that looks human. James Tour et al. (Rice University) designed and synthesized these compounds in 2003 as a part of a sequence of chemical education for young students. The compounds are consisted by two benzene rings connected via a few carbon atoms as the body, four acetylene units each carring an alkyl group at their ends which represents the hands and legs, and a 1,3-dioxolane ring as the head.

Construction of the structure basically depends on Sonogashira coupling. By replacing the 1,3-dioxolane part with an appropriate ring structure, various other types of putians have been synthesized, e.g. NanoAthlete, NanoPilgrim, NanoGreenBeret, and so on. Placing thiol functional groups at the leg enables them to sort on a gold surface.