Reversible disassembly of metallasupramolecular structures mediated by a metastable-state photoacid

Abstract

Only stable in the dark: when mixed with a metastable-state photoacid, metallasupramolecular structures become light sensitive. The photo-induced disassembly of the structures is reversed when the light is switched off.

Structure–function relationships of donor–acceptor Stenhouse adduct photochromic switches

“…Those that can be addressed by visible light are particularly appealing 2 as visible light is generally non-destructive, and selective addressing of the different isomers is straightforward where the two isomers absorb at sufficiently different wavelengths. In addition to the commercial applications such as in sunglass lenses, photochromic molecules allow light to be used to reversibly control molecular properties for the development of light-controllable molecular tools, 3 controlling energy transfer 4 or self-assembly, 5 acting as receptors, 6 powering molecular machines, 7 for drug delivery, 8 or modifying material properties. 9 Dithienylethene, 10 spiropyran, 5 , 11 oxazine 12 and azobenzene 9a , 13 are classic photochromic molecules and examples exist in all of these groups where visible light can be used to drive the photoisomerisation.…”

“…In addition to the commercial applications such as in sunglass lenses, photochromic molecules allow light to be used to reversibly control molecular properties for the development of light-controllable molecular tools, 3 controlling energy transfer 4 or self-assembly, 5 acting as receptors, 6 powering molecular machines, 7 for drug delivery, 8 or modifying material properties. 9 Dithienylethene, 10 spiropyran, 5 , 11 oxazine 12 and azobenzene 9a , 13 are classic photochromic molecules and examples exist in all of these groups where visible light can be used to drive the photoisomerisation. More recently, hemithioindigo, 14 indigos, 15 heterodiazocines, 16 arylhydrazones, 17 azo-BF 2 derivatives, 18 imidazolyl-based radicals 19 and coumarin-dienes 20 have all demonstrated excellent visible-light switching properties, including examples of biphotochromic systems.…”

Effects of Substituents on Metastable‐State Photoacids: Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of their Photochemical Properties

“…Last, but not least, Liao and co‐workers reported a metastable‐state photoacid that could reversibly undergo proton photodissociation accompanied with a nucleophilic reaction to form a cyclic spiropyran upon irradiation with a moderate intensity of visible light and thermal recovery in the dark. Given its high efficiency (a pH change of 2.2 units), long lifetime ( t 1/2 =76 s), and good reversibility, this metastable‐state photoacid has attracted considerable attention and has been utilized in various fields, such as the control of acid‐catalyzed reactions, supramolecular assemblies, microbial fuel cells, bacteria killing, waste management of reactions, cationic sensors, odorant release, and biological function . Recently, our group successfully extended the application of this photoacid to visible‐light‐responsive rewritable paper .…”

Supramolecular cages as differential sensors for dicarboxylate anions: guest length sensing using principal component analysis of ESI-MS and 1H-NMR raw data

“…The obtained results pave the way to another peculiar functional property, among the many other properties that supramolecular cages have shown so far. [44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53] Results and discussion Development of a differential sensing array using ESI-MS data…”