Nature Chemistry, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02141-6Light-driven molecular motors represent archetypical molecular machines, with the existing varieties working via light-induced bond rotations. Now a different mechanism invoking constitutional alteration and reversible proton transfer is shown. This enables the formation of a high-energy intermediate and its application in low-temperature molecular solar thermal energy storage.
