Organocatalysis is an emerging field in which small metal-free organic structures catalyze a diversity of reactions with remarkable stereoselectivity. The ability to selectively switch on such pathways upon demand has proven to be a valuable tool in biological systems. Light as a trigger provides the ultimate spatial and temporal control of activation. However, there have been limited examples of photo triggered catalytic systems. Herein, we describe the synthesis and application of a caged proline system that can initiate organocatalysis upon irradiation. The caged proline was generated using the highly efficient 4-carboxy-5,7-dinitroindolinyl (CDNI) photocleavable protecting group in a 4-step synthesis. Advantages of this system include water solubility, biocompatibility, high quantum yield for catalyst release, and responsiveness to two-photon excitation. We showed the light triggered catalysis of a crossed aldol, a Mannich, and a self-aldol condensation reaction. We also demonstrated light initiated catalysis leading to the formation of a biocide in situ, which resulted in the growth inhibition of E. coli, with as little as 3 minutes of irradiation. This technique can be broadly applied to other systems by which the formation of active forms of drugs can be catalytically assembled remotely via two-photon irradiation.
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