UV-Vis, NMR, and time-resolved spectroscopy analysis of photoisomerization behavior of three- and six-azobenzene-bound tris(bipyridine)cobalt complexes

The photoisomerization properties of tris(bipyridine)cobalt complexes containing six or three azobenzene moieties, namely, [Co(II)(dmAB)3](BF4)2 [dmAB = 4,4'-bis[3'-(4'-tolylazo)phenyl]-2,2'-bipyridine], [Co(III)(dmAB)3](BF4)3, [Co(II)(mAB)3](BF4)2 [mAB = 4-[3' '-(4' '-tolylazo)phenyl]-2,2'-bipyridine], and [Co(III)(dmAB)3](BF4)3, derived from the effect of gathering azobenzenes in one molecule and the effect of the cobalt(II) or cobalt(III) ion were investigated using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, femtosecond transient spectroscopy, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. In the photostationary state of these four complexes, nearly 50% of the trans-azobenzene moieties of the Co(II) complexes were converted to the cis isomer, and nearly 10% of the trans-azobenzene moieties of the Co(III) complexes isomerized to the cis isomer, implying that the cis isomer ratio in the photostationary state upon irradiation at 365 nm is controlled not by the number of azobenzene moieties in one molecule but rather by the oxidation state of the cobalt ions. The femtosecond transient absorption spectra of the ligands and the complexes suggested that the photoexcited states of the azobenzene moieties in the Co(III) complexes were strongly deactivated by electron transfer from the azobenzene moiety to the cobalt center to form an azobenzene radical cation and a Co(II) center. The cooperation among the photochemical structural changes of six azobenzene moieties in [Co(II)(dmAB)3](BF4)2 was investigated with 1H NMR spectroscopy. The time-course change in the 1H NMR signals of the methyl protons indicated that each azobenzene moiety in [Co(II)(dmAB)3](BF4)2 isomerized to a cis isomer with a random probability of 50% and without interactions among the azobenzene moieties.     

基于原子转移自由基聚合技术的偶氮苯星形液晶聚合物的合成与表征

利用原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)技术合成了含不同端基取代基的偶氮苯三臂星形侧链液晶聚合物. 均苯三酚与2-溴异丁酰溴通过酯化反应制备三官能团引发剂, 引发偶氮苯单体6-[4-(4-甲氧基苯基偶氮)酚氧基]己基甲基丙烯酸酯(MMAzo)或6-[4-(4-乙氧基苯基偶氮)酚氧基]己基甲基丙烯酸酯(EMAzo)的ATRP反应. 利用核磁共振氢谱(¹H NMR)、凝胶色谱(GPC)、差示扫描量热法(DSC)和偏光显微镜(POM)等手段对星形聚合物进行表征. 星形聚合物的液晶性与相应均聚物相似, 但偶氮苯端基取代基的不同导致星形聚合物的液晶性差别显著. 在紫外/可见光照射下星形聚合物呈现明显的异构化转变.     

含苯氧基萘并萘醌和偶氮苯双变色基化合物的合成和性质

通过６－氯－５，１２－萘并萘醌与４－羟基偶氮苯及其衍生物的反应合成了３种含苯氧基萘并萘醌和偶氮苯光致变色基的双变色基化合物，６－［４－（苯偶氮基）苯氧基］－５，１２－萘并萘醌（５），６－［４－（ｐ－乙氧基苯偶氮基）苯氧基］－５，１２－萘并萘醌（６）和６－［４－（ｐ－硝基苯偶氮基）苯氧基］－５，１２－萘并萘醌（７）．这些化合物的苯氧基萘并萘醌变色基的ＵＶ诱导光致变色性较弱；基于氨与苯氧基萘并萘醌ａｎａ显色体的不可逆反应，化合物５和６ＤＭＳＯ溶液在３６５ｎｍ紫外光辐照光稳态（ＰＳＳ）下的ａｎａ醌式摩尔分数估计分别为２２％和１７％．这些结果说明，苯偶氮基对苯氧基萘并萘醌变色基的光致变色性质有着极强的影响．另一方面，与４－羟基偶氮苯母体不同，这些双变色基化合物在ＤＭＳＯ中偶氮苯变色基的顺式异构体是相对稳定的     

PET表面接枝偶氮聚合物和光致取向研究

合成了一种丙烯酸酯类含芳香族偶氮生色团的单体ANB .以二苯甲酮为引发剂 ,采用固相紫外光接枝方法将上述单体接枝到聚酯 (PET)膜的表面 ,得到了一种具有光响应性的接枝膜 .通过SEM研究了接枝膜的表面和断面的形貌 ,观察到偶氮接枝层均匀地覆盖了PET表面 ,接枝层厚度约 0 4μm .研究发现 ,当使用488nm的线偏振激光照射接枝膜时 ,偶氮生色团通过快速的顺反异构化反应在垂直于偏振光极化方向上发生取向 ,得到了具有光学各向异性表面的PET接枝膜 .接枝膜的取向是一个快速过程 ,取向有序度参数在 2min时即达到最大值 ,为 0 0 6左右     

Molecular orientation of azobenzene chromophores in ultrathin polymer nanosheets studied by attenuated total reflection spectroscopy

This paper describes characterization of molecular orientation for azobenzene moieties in a polymer nanosheet. Copolymers of N-[4-(phenylazo)phenyl] acrylamide (PAZoA) with tert-pentyl acrylamide (tPA) were synthesized and the monolayers deposited on tapered quartz waveguides by Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) technique. Spectroscopic properties of the copolymer (p(tPA/PAZoA)) monolayers were monitored by integrated optical waveguide technique on the molecular level. Molecular orientation of the azobenzene was precisely determined by polarized absorption spectra. It was found that the azobenzene groups took a horizontal orientation and distributed uniformly in the p(tPA/PAZoA) monolayer without significant PAZoA aggregation. Photoisomerization process from trans to cis form was also investigated. More than half of the trans form (60–70%) was photoisomerized under unpolarized light irradiation, and the photoisomerization rate was independent on the PAZoA contents. This implies that the microenvironment of PAZoA moieties was almost the same in three different p(tPA/PAZoA) monolayers.     

Synthesis and characterization of 4‐arm star side‐chain liquid crystalline polymers containing azobenzene with different terminal substituents via ATRP

4‐Arm star side‐chain liquid crystalline (LC) polymers containing azobenzene with different terminal substituents were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Tetrafunctional initiator prepared by the esterification between pentaerythritol and 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide was utilized to initiate the polymerization of 6‐[4‐(4‐methoxyphenylazo)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate (MMAzo) and 6‐[4‐(4‐ethoxyphenylazo)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate (EMAzo), respectively. The 4‐arm star side‐chain LC polymer with p‐methoxyazobenzene moieties exhibits a smectic and a nematic phase, while that with p‐ethoxyazobenzene moieties shows only a nematic phase, which derives of different terminal substituents. The star polymers have similar LC behavior to the corresponding linear homopolymers, whereas transition temperatures decrease slightly. Both star polymers show photoresponsive isomerization under the irradiation with UV–vis light. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3342–3348, 2007     

Synthesis and liquid crystalline behaviour of substituted (E)-phenyl-4-(phenyldiazenyl) benzoate derivatives and their photo switching ability

Azobenzene derivatives containing phenyl/4-halogen-phenyl 4-{(E)-[4-(pent-4-en-1-yloxy)phenyl]diazenyl}benzoate group with different electronegative substituent (H, F, Cl, Br and I) at other end was synthesised. These azo-based benzoate derivatives have been characterised by FTIR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, elemental analyser, POM and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Photosaturation at 358 nm obtained after 82 s of UV irradiation and the longest thermal back relaxation time of 45 h recorded by UV-Vis. The azo derivative could be possible photolock under UV light, as observed by the improved thermal back relaxation time. The resulting photolockable chain of azobenzene might prove valuable in the development of optical device application. These azobenzene moieties also exhibit liquid crystalline behaviour with respect to the halogen substitution as an electron withdrawing group shows that strong structure property relationship exists among them.     

Switching of molecular insertion in a cyclic molecule via photo- and thermal isomerization

Two new cyclic ligands were synthesized: a ligand with two trans-azobenzene moieties and one bipyridine moiety, trans(2)-oAB-O13, and a ligand with two trans-azobenzene moieties and two bipyridine moieties, trans(2)-oAB-bpy. Both ligands underwent reversible trans-cis isomerization at the azobenzene moieties. The mole ratios of the trans(2) form:trans-cis form:cis(2) form, evaluated by (1)H NMR spectroscopy of the photostationary states prepared by 1 h illumination, were 0.13:0.27:0.60 (365 nm irradiation) and 0.41:0.47:0.12 (436 nm irradiation) for oAB-O13, and 0.18:0.12:0.70 (365 nm irradiation) and 0.36:0.43:0.21 (436 nm irradiation) for oAB-bpy. When trans(2)-oAB-O13 was mixed with Cu(I), both the bipyridine units and the polyether chains coordinated to the copper center. Addition of a noncyclic bipyridine ligand, trans(2)-oAB-2OH, afforded a bis(bipyridine)copper(I) complex, [Cu(trans(2)-oAB-O13)(trans(2)-oAB-2OH)]BF(4). The bis(bipyridine) ligand, trans(2)-oAB-bpy, formed a 1:1 complex with Cu(I), [Cu(trans(2)-oAB-bpy)]BF(4). [Cu(cis(2)-oAB-bpy)]BF(4) did not undergo the ligand substitution reaction with a noncyclic ligand with two azobenzene moieties and one bipyridine moiety, oAB, whereas its thermal isomerization in the presence of oAB caused the formation of [Cu(trans(2)-oAB-bpy)(trans(2)-oAB)]BF(4), indicating that the isomerization and ligand exchange reactions synchronized via a conformational change of the cyclic ligand.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a Novel Chiral 1-Methylpropargyl Ester Carrying Azobenzene Moiety

A novel chiral methylpropargyl ester containing azobenzene moiety(S)-(-)-3-methyl-3-{4-[4-(n-octyloxy)phenylazophenyl]carbonyl}oxy-1-propyne 3(C25H30N2O3,Mr = 406.51) was synthesized and characterized by IR,NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.The crystal is of monoclinic system,space group P21 with a=6.7610(17),b=7.675(2),c=22.749(7),β=97.613(6)°,V=1170.1(6)3,Z=2,Dc=1.154,F(000)=436,μ=0.076 mm-1,R=0.0544 and wR=0.1569 for 2444 observed reflections with Ⅰ2σ(Ⅰ).Structure analysis proved that the azobenzene presents a trans form,and intermolecular hydrogen bonds yield a 3D framework.The chiral acetylene carrying azobenzene moieties can be a potential alternative nonlinear optical,helical polymer,and liquid crystalline material.     

Synthesis of novel side‐chain triphenylamine polymers with azobenzene moieties via RAFT polymerization and investigation on their photoelectric properties

Two novel and well‐defined polymers, poly[6‐(5‐(diphenylamino)‐2‐((4‐methoxyphenyl)diazenyl)phenoxy)hexyl methacrylate] (PDMMA) and poly[6‐(4‐((3‐ethynylphenyl)diazenyl) phenoxy)hexyl methacrylate] (PDPMMA), which bear triphenylamine (TPA) incorporated to azobenzene either directly (PDMMA) or with an interval (PDPMMA) as pendant groups were successfully prepared via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization technique. The electrochemical behaviors of PDPMMA and PDMMA were investigated by cyclic voltammograms (CV) measurement. The hole mobilities of the polymer films were determined by fitting the J‐V (current‐voltage) curve into the space‐charge‐limited current method. The influence of photoisomerization of the azobenzene moiety on the behaviors of fluorescence emission, CV and hole mobilities of these two polymers were studied. The fluorescent emission intensities of these two polymers in CH₂Cl₂ were increased by about 100 times after UV irradiation. The oxidation peak currents (I_OX) of the PDMMA and PDPMMA in CH₂Cl₂ were increased after UV irradiation. The photoisomerization of the azobenzene moiety in PDMMA had significant effect on the electrochemical behavior, compared with that in PDPMMA. The changes of the hole mobility before and after UV irradiation were very small for both polymers. The HOMO energies (E_HOMO, HOMO: the highest occupied molecular orbital) of side chain moieties of TPA incorporated with cis‐isomer and trans‐isomer of azobenzene in PDMMA and PDPMMA were obtained by theoretical calculation, which are basically consistent with the experimental results. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Surface arrangement of azobenzene moieties in two different azobenzene‐derived Langmiur–Blodgett films

An investigation of two different Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films, [4‐(6‐oxo‐hexacarboxylic acid)‐3‐trifluoromethyl‐azobenzene] (FAzo5COOH) and copolymer poly{2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate}₉‐co‐{6‐[3‐((trifluoromethyl)phenyl)azo] phenoxylhe‐Xylmeth‐acrylate}₁(PHEMA‐co‐PFAzoPHA) films, is reported. The different structural behavior of the two types of films was first analyzed in detail by UV–visible spectroscopy. The different wettability of the films under UV–visible irradiation was subsequently studied by the contact‐angle technique. A large change of the contact angle (CA) was observed on PHEMA‐co‐PFAzoPHA films compared to the FAzo5COOH films before and after UV irradiation. The films were finally characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the morphologies were observed under UV–visible irradiation. The results indicate that the molecules are densely packed in the FAzo5COOH films compared to the PHEMA‐co‐PFAzoPHA films. It is attributed to the strong interaction between neighboring azobenzene moieties in the FAzo5COOH LB films of the smaller molecules. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photoinduced chirality in achiral liquid crystalline azobenzene polymers containing different polar side groups

Circular dichroism (CD) was induced in the films of two achiral liquid crystalline polymers, poly[(4′-(6-(methacryloyloxy)hexyl)oxy)-(4-X)azobenzene] (PM6X, X = C and N for cyano and nitro, respectively), by irradiation with one handed circularly polarized light (CPL) at 442 nm. The CD and UV spectra of the polymeric films suggest that left-CPL induces a left helical structure and right-CPL reverses the resulting structure into a right helix. For PM6C, the photoinduced CD values of the nematic film are much higher than in the casting and isotropic film. The photoinduced chirality of PM6C films is higher than PM6N due to a higher polarity of nitro groups in PM6N. The PM6N’s CD intensity around 450 nm is increased with the irradiation time of linearly polarized light (LPL) followed by left-CPL irradiation. The correlation between azobenzene chromophores and circularly polarized light will be discussed in the paper.     

Synthesis and photoisomerization of poly(1‐methylpropargyl ester)s carrying azobenzene moieties

Optically active 1‐methylpropargyl esters bearing azobenzene groups, namely, (S)‐(?)‐3‐methyl‐3‐{4‐[4‐(n‐butyloxy)phenylazophenyl]carbonyl}oxy‐1‐propyne ( 1 ), (S)‐(?)‐3‐methyl‐3‐{4‐[4‐(n‐hexyloxy)phenylazophenyl]carbonyl}oxy‐1‐propyne ( 2 ), and (S)‐(?)‐3‐methyl‐3‐{4‐[4‐(n‐octyloxy)phenylazophenyl]carbonyl}oxy‐1‐propyne ( 3 ) were synthesized and polymerized with Rh⁺(nbd)[η⁶‐C₆H₅B^?(C₆H₅)₃] (nbd, norbornadiene) as a catalyst to afford the corresponding poly(1‐methyloropargyl ester)s with moderate molecular weights (M_n = 24,000–31,300) in good yields (79–84%). Polymers were soluble in common organic solvents including toluene, CHCl₃, CH₂Cl₂, THF, and DMSO, whereas insoluble in diethyl ether, n‐hexane, and methanol. Large optical rotations and strong CD signals demonstrated that all the polymers take a helical structure with a predominantly one‐handed screw sense. The helical structure of the polymers changed with the addition of MeOH and heat. The trans‐azobenzene of the polymer side chains isomerized into cis on UV irradiation, which was accompanied with drastic helical conformational changes of the polymer backbone. The cis‐azobenzene moiety reisomerized into trans on visible‐light irradiation, which induced the recovery of chiral geometry of azobenzene moieties in the side chain. Conformational analysis revealed that the polymers form a tightly twisted right‐handed helical structure with a dihedral angle of 70° at the single bond of the main chain. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4749–4761, 2009     

Reversible modulation in luminescence intensity of a single vesicle composed of diblock azo-copolymer and tris(dibenzoylmethanate)(phenanthroline)europium(III)

Tris(dibenzoylmethanate)(phenanthroline)europium(III)[Eu(DBM)(3)Phen]-doped amphiphilic vesicles were obtained by self-assembling of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-poly[6-[4-(4-methylphenyl-azo) phenoxy] hexylacrylate] (PNIPAM(83)-b-PAzoM(20)) in presence of Eu(DBM)(3)Phen in the mixed solvent of THF/H(2)O (50/50 vol.%). Their optical properties were studied by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies. The UV-vis spectrum showed that the electronic transition bands of azobenzene and Eu(DBM)(3)Phen were overlapped at about 365 nm and the main peak of fluorescence emission band appeared at 612 nm. So the vesicles showed obvious red luminescence. It was found that the fluorescence intensity of a single Eu(DBM)(3)Phen-doped vesicle could be modulated by irradiation with UV and visible light due to the reversible trans-cis-trans photoisomerization reaction of azobenzene moiety. Possible energy allocation process for this property was discussed in details.     

Photoresponsive and fluorescence behaviors of azobenzene‐containing amphiphilic block copolymers

The effects of solvency and mole fraction of azobenzene moieties (f_PAzoMA) on the photoresponsive and fluorescence behaviors of poly(acrylic acid)‐block‐poly(6‐[4‐(4′‐methoxyphenylazo)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate) (PAA‐PAzoMA) amphiphilic diblock copolymers were investigated using UV–vis spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. The photoresponsive behavior depended strongly on the solvency and f_PAzoMA. When dissolved in a PAA‐selective solvent, PAA‐PAzoMA formed micelles with PAzoMA in the micelle core. The confinement of azobenzene moieties caused a steric hindrance, thereby markedly reducing the kinetics of photoisomerization compared with that of the unconfined PAA‐PAzoMA in a nonselective solvent. Additionally, PAA‐PAzoMA dissolved in the PAA‐selective solvent caused a blue shift of the maximum absorbance, suggesting the formation of H‐aggregates of azobenzene mesogens. The high H‐aggregate content substantially reduced the fluorescence emission. Consequently, the fluorescence emission of PAA‐PAzoMA in the nonselective solvent was more intense than that in the PAA‐selective solvent. Upon UV irradiation, the enhanced bent‐shaped cis isomers disturbed the compact packing of azobenzene mesogens, which substantially enhanced the fluorescence emission. Both the photoisomerization rate and fluorescence emission decreased with an increase in f_PAzoMA. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 793–803     

PHOTOINDUCED HOLOGRAPHIC PHASE GRATINGS BURIED IN AZOBENZENE SIDE-CHAIN POLYMER FILMS WITH A CHIRAL GROUP

An optically active polymer (PM1) containing azobenzene moieties with a chiral group (s-2-methyl-butyl) wassynthesized by homopolymerization of monomer, 4-[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyloxy-4'-(s-2-methyl-1-butyl oxycarbonyl)azobenzene, using the free radical polymerization method. The polymer dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF) could be easilyprocessed into high optical quality films. The optical anisotropy of the polymer films was investigated by polarizing opticalmicroscopy (POM). The experimental results showed that irradiation with a circularly polarized beam could align theorientation of the molecules in the polymer films. Moreover, the holographic phase gratings of photo-induced polymer filmswere detected by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and POM. In comparison with polymer containing no chiral group, it wasfound from the preliminary measurement of the photo-induced holographic phase gratings that PM1 containing a chiralgroup could form holographic phase gratings buried in the films.     

Living cationic polymerization of azobenzene‐containing vinyl ether and its photoresponsive behavior

The living cationic polymerization of 4‐[2‐(vinyloxy)ethoxy]azobenzene (AzoVE) was achieved with various Lewis acids in the presence of an ester as an added base. When Et_1.5AlCl_1.5 was used as a catalyst, the living polymerization system was controllable by UV irradiation as a result of cis and trans isomerization of the azobenzene side groups. Furthermore, an initiating system consisting of SnCl₄ and EtAlCl₂ realized fast living polymerization of AzoVE. The polymerization rate of this system was 3 orders of magnitude faster than that obtained with Et_1.5AlCl_1.5. Poly(4‐[2‐(vinyloxy)ethoxy]azobenzene) was soluble in a diethyl ether/hexane mixture at 25 °C but became insoluble upon irradiation with UV light. This phase‐transition behavior was sensitive and reversible upon irradiation with UV or visible light and reflected the change in polarity occurring with cis and trans isomerization of the azobenzene side groups in the polymers. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5138–5146, 2005     

A cucurbit[8]uril recognized rigid supramolecular polymer with photo-stimulated responsiveness

A rigid supramolecular polymer was constructed in aqueous solution via cucurbit[8]uril(CB[8]) host recognition with a rigid monomer containing an azobenzene unit and two 4,4'-bipyridin-1-ium(BP)moieties in the two ends, which also exhibited photo-responsiveness owing to the photoinduced trans–cis isomerization of azobenzene group.     

Contrast viscosity changes upon photoirradiation for mixtures of poly(acrylic acid)-based alpha-cyclodextrin and azobenzene polymers

Polymer-polymer interactions were investigated for mixtures of a poly(acrylic acid) (pAA) carrying azobenzene (pC12Azo) and two kinds of pAA carrying alpha-cyclodextrin (CD), in which CDs are attached to the main chain through the 3- and 6-positions in CD (p3alphaCD and p6alphaCD, respectively), using several techniques, such as viscosity and NMR measurements. Viscosity data exhibited contrast changes upon UV irradiation: thinning (p3alphaCD/pC12Azo) and thickening (p6alphaCD/pC12Azo). NOESY spectra confirmed that the contrast viscosity changes were ascribable to differences in how CD moieties interact with pC12Azo after photoisomerization of azobenzene moieties from trans to cis: dissociation of inclusion complexes (p3alphaCD/pC12Azo) and formation of interlocked complexes (p6alphaCD/pC12Azo).     

Synthesis under microwave irradiation of [1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b] [1,3,4]thiadiazoles and other diazoles bearing indole moieties and their antimicrobial evaluation

Microwave-assisted synthesis of some novel compounds, namely, 3-(2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-6-aryl-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles 5a,b was accomplished via bromination of 2-methyl-3-[4-(arylideneamino)-5-mercapto-4H-[1,2,4]triazol-3-yl]-1H-indoles 3a,b. Also, new [1,3,4]thiadiazoles 12a,b, [1,2,4]triazoles 15a,b and [1,3,4]oxadiazoles 19a,b, with indole moieties, were prepared by cyclization of 1-[(2-methyl-1H-indole)-3-carbonyl]thiosemicarbazides 8a,b under microwave irradiation using different reaction conditions. Moreover, reaction of acid hydrazide 7 with ethyl 2-(N-phenylhydrazono)-3-oxobutanoate (20) gave the respective phenylhydrazonopyrazole derivative 21 under the reaction conditions employed. The structures of the synthesized compounds were assigned based on elemental analyses and spectral data (IR, (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR, MS). The antifungal and antibacterial activities of the new products were also evaluated.