Metal complexes bearing photochromic ligands: photocontrol of functions and processes

Abstract

Metal complexes associated with photochromic molecules are attractive platforms to achieve smart light-switching materials with advanced properties and to draw exciting perspectives that will boost the field of photoswitchable materials.

Solid-state photochromic arylazopyrazole-based transition metal complexes

“…On the other hand, specific designs are desired in metalbased molecular systems, which give additional advantages in modulating inherent physicochemical properties such as the electrocatalytic, magnetic, redox and biological behaviour of these complexes by light. Such complexes find applications in light-induced ligand-driven spin crossover complexes, [5][6][7] redox switches, 8,9 photoswitchable catalysts, [10][11][12] nonlinear optics, 13,14 logics and memories, 15 supramolecular chemistry, [16][17][18] etc. Indeed, phototunability can be introduced into transition metal complexes by incorporating different organic photochromes within the ligand frameworks.…”

Metal–Photoswitch Friendship: From Photochromic Complexes to Functional Materials

“…The foregoing results foreshadow a great potential toward different applications ranging from cation sensing to anticancer treatment using synergy of a metal (i.e., oxidation state, spin state, or coordination geometry) with the precise spatiotemporal control of organic stimuli-responsive molecules. However, in the reported studies, a majority of M−Φ interactions are limited to a few well-known classes of photochromic molecules, including spiropyran, spirooxazine, azobenzene, or diarylethene derivatives. ,,,,− We envision that broadening the scope of stimuli-responsive molecules, their molecular geometries, and mechanisms of switching between one or multiple states would not only expand the scope of the M−Φ interaction portfolio but also reveal insights on the new forms of M−Φ “friendship” which could be translated into a novel twist of applications. Systematic studies of M−Φ systems, in which either M or Φ is used as a variable, are also crucial to reveal fundamental principles such as a possible effect of M or M−Φ interactions on isomerization kinetics of Φ.…”

Smart Photochromic Materials Triggered with Visible Light

“…Various aspects of the molecular photochromism can be discussed in details and have been recently reviewed, such as photoswitching in aqueous environment, [6] applications in medicine, [7] or in catalysis, [8] reversible solid‐to‐liquid phototransitions, [9] photochromism of materials, [10] including photoresponsive porous, [11] or soft materials, [12] photochromic ligands in metal complexes, [13] or photoswitchable peptides [14] and saccharides [15]…”