Photochromic Blockers of Voltage‐Gated Potassium Channels

Abstract

Light work: Studies into the mechanism of AAQ, a photoswitchable blocker of voltage‐gated K+ channels, led to the discovery and development of photochromic ligands that act at the internal tetraethylammonium binding site (see picture). These molecules can be applied from the extracellular side to impart long‐lasting photosensitivity on K+ channels in living cells and thereby afford photocontrol of action potential firing in neurons.

The GABAA receptor as a target for photochromic molecules

“…Later it was determined, however, that AAQ predominantly acts as a non-tethered photochromic ligand at the internal TEA binding. 11 …”

Palladium-Catalyzed Direct o-Nitrification of Azobenzenes with Co(NO3)2·6H2O via C-H Activation

“…Recently, many significant progress has been made in nitrification reagents such as NO 2 , [7] bismuth nitrate [8] and Fe(NO 3 ) 3 •9H 2 O. [9] Azobenzenes have attracted much interest due to their applications as pharmaceuticals, [10] liquid crystals, [11] molecular switches, [12] femtosecond fluorescence. [13] Among these, the 2-(phenyldiazenyl)aniline scaffold is an important motif found in a variety of compounds, including dyes, [14] chiroptical molecular switches, [15] pharmaceutical drugs, [16] photochemical materials [17] and functional materials such as azobenzene-functionalized PVAms.…”

Characterisation of dihydroazulene and vinylheptafulvene derivatives using Raman spectroscopy: The CN-stretching region

“…The dihydroazulene (DHA)/vinylheptafulvene (VHF) photochromic system [1][2][3] satisfies the requirements for a molecular switch [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] that can be used in molecular electronics devices. A molecular switch should be able to switch reversibly between at least two states as a stimulus is introduced [11].…”