Reply to Comment on “Molecules, the Ultimate Nanomotor: Linking Chemical Reaction Intermediates to their Molecular Diffusivity”

Several studies by our group suggest enhanced mobility of certain molecules during some (not all) chemical reactions. This is likely the result of multiple factors including possibly that chemical reaction dynamically changes the hydration or solvation layer. Beves, Fischer and coworkers challenge this view with arguments that the diffusion NMR methods we used to detect molecular diffusion are faulty. Here, using the shuffled magnetic field gradient sequence method of diffusion NMR recommended by Beves, Fischer and coworkers, and considering the CuAAC click reaction that they criticize specifically, we provide new data and analysis that validates our earlier conclusions. Analysis of NMR spectra and of survey of the literature validates that our study detected chemical reaction intermediates (not the H-D exchange proposed by Beves, Fischer and coworkers). We endeavor to reconcile opposing arguments of this debate.