Tuning the Thermal Stability and Photoisomerization of Azoheteroarenes through Macrocycle Strain*.

ABSTRACT: Azobenzene and its derivatives are one of the most widespread molecular scaffolds used in a range of modern applications, as well as in fundamental research. After photoexcitation, azo-based photoswitches revert back to the most stable isomer on a timescale ( t 1 / 2 ) that determines the range of potential applications. Attempts to bring t 1 / 2 to extreme values prompted the development of azobenzene and azoheteroarene derivatives that either rebalance the E- and Z-isomer stabilities, or exploit unconventional thermal isomerization mechanisms. In the former case, one successful strategy has been the creation of macrocycle strain, which tends to impact the E/Z stability asymmetrically, and thus significantly modify t 1 / 2 . On the bright side, bridged derivatives have shown an im

SUBMITTER: Vela S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7839710 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature