biostudies-literaturePaolino MLabex NIEEUR QMATCNRS and InsermFRI STRAT'USInterdisciplinary Thematic Institute Qmate202201477https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9541190biostudies-literatureUnknown28(50)HBDI-like chromophores represent a novel set of biomimetic switches mimicking the fluorophore of the green fluorescent protein that are currently studied with the hope to expand the molecular switch/motor toolbox. However, until now members capable of absorbing visible light in their neutral (i. e. non-anionic) form have not been reported. In this contribution we report the preparation of an HBDI-like chromophore based on a 3-phenylbenzofulvene scaffold capable of absorbing blue light and photoisomerizing on the picosecond timescale. More specifically, we show that double-bond photoisomerization occurs in both the E-to-Z and Z-to-E directions and that these can be controlled by irradiating with blue and UV light, respectively. Finally, as a preliminary applicative result, we report the incChemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)Design, Synthesis and Characterization of a Visible-Light-Sensitive Molecular Switch and Its PEGylation Towards a Self-Assembling Molecule.PMC9541190ANR-17-EURE-002TI 2021-2028ANR-11-LABX-0058_NIEANR 10 IDEX 0002ANR 20 SFRI 0012Gentile MCappelli AGiuliani GMarquette ACarlotti BPaolino MOlivucci MReale AVarvara PGiorgi GDonati ABonechi CLatterini LLicciardi MOrtica FLeonard JSaletti MPaccagnini EfalseDesign, Synthesis and Characterization of a Visible-Light-Sensitive Molecular Switch and Its PEGylation Towards a Self-Assembling Molecule.HBDI-like chromophores represent a novel set of biomimetic switches mimicking the fluorophore of the green fluorescent protein that are currently studied with the hope to expand the molecular switch/motor toolbox. However, until now members capable of absorbing visible light in their neutral (i. e. non-anionic) form have not been reported. In this contribution we report the preparation of an HBDI-like chromophore based on a 3-phenylbenzofulvene scaffold capable of absorbing blue light and photoisomerizing on the picosecond timescale. More specifically, we show that double-bond photoisomerization occurs in both the E-to-Z and Z-to-E directions and that these can be controlled by irradiating with blue and UV light, respectively. Finally, as a preliminary applicative result, we report the inc2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Sep2025-04-04T20:04:10.178Z2025-04-04T20:04:10.178ZS-EPMC95411903569582210.1002/chem.202201477