Reversible, Red-Shifted Photoisomerization in Protonated Azobenzenes.

ABSTRACT: Azobenzenes are among the best-studied molecular photoswitches and play a key role in the search for red-shifted photoresponsive materials for extended applications. Currently, most approaches deal with aromatic substitution patterns to achieve visible light application, on occasion paired with protonation to yield red-shifted absorption of the azonium species. Appropriate substitution patterns are essential to stabilize the latter approach, as conventional acids are known to induce a fast Z- to E-conversion. Here, we show that steady-state protonation of the azo-bridge instead is possible in simple azobenzenes when the pK_a of the acid is low enough, yielding both the Z- and E-azonium as supported by UV-vis- and ¹H NMR spectroscopy a

SUBMITTER: Rickhoff J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9396658 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature