Scientists accidentally tie the smallest and tightest knot consisting of only 54 atoms

Scientists from the University of Western Ontario in Canada and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have accidentally created the smallest and tightest molecular knot in history. The shamrock-shaped knot consists of only 54 atoms and has a backbone cross-section ratio (BCR) of 18.

This is reported by Science Alert. BCR is a measure of how strong a knot is. The lower the BCR, the stronger the knot. Most organic molecular knots have a BCR of 27 to 33.

The knot was created during an experiment on the synthesis of metal acetylides. When the researchers combined a gold acetylide with another carbon structure, they unexpectedly got a shamrock instead of the expected gold chain.

"It's a pretty complex system, and to be honest, we don't know how it happens," said Richard Puddefatt, one of the study's authors.

Scientists believe that this knot may be important for understanding how microscopic knots are formed in DNA, RNA, and various proteins. It can also be used to create new materials with unique properties.

"Molecular knots, the synthesis of which is challenging, can play an important role in protein structure and function, as well as in useful molecular materials whose properties depend on the size of the knot structure," the researchers explain in an article published in the journal Nature Communications.

This breakthrough is another example of how chance can lead to important scientific discoveries.

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