Abstract
Molecular photoswitches enable reversible external control of biological systems, nanomachines, and smart materials. Their development is driven by the need for low energy (green-red-NIR) light switching, to allow non-invasive operation with deep tissue penetration. The lack of clear design principles for the adaptation and optimization of such systems limits further applications. Here we provide a design rulebook for tetra-ortho-chloroazobenzenes, an emerging class of visible-light-responsive photochromes, by elucidating the role that substituents play in defining their key characteristics: absorption spectra, band overlap, photoswitching efficiencies, and half-lives of the unstable cis isomers. This is achieved through joint photochemical and theoretical analyses of a representative library of molecules featuring substituents of varying electronic nature. A set of guidelines is presented that enables tuning of properties to the desired application through informed photochrome engineering.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 21663-21670 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Angewandte Chemie-International Edition |
Volume | 59 |
Issue number | 48 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 23-Nov-2020 |
Keywords
- azobenzene
- photochromism
- photoswitches
- TD-DFT
- visible light
- OPTICAL CONTROL
- SHEDDING LIGHT
- IN-VIVO
- PHOTOISOMERIZATION
- FLUOROAZOBENZENES
- PHOTOCHROMISM
- INHIBITORS
- SWITCHES