Phase-dependent photochromism of a lactone-stabilized chromene from a flavylium reaction network

New trans‐2‐hydroxychalcones bearing a carboxylate group at position 2′ ( Ct ^?) were synthesized (compounds 2 and 3 ). These compounds lead to a network of chemical reactions depending on pH value, light, and solvent. In water, when the pH value is lowered, the ionized trans‐chalcone is protonated and the flavylium cation A H⁺ is formed at very acidic pH values through hemiketal B and cis‐chalcone Cc , with global acidity constants of pK′_a ≤?1 and ≈0.1, respectively, for 2 and 3 . The electron‐acceptor character of the carboxylic substituent not only increases the observed acidity of the flavylium cation, but also decreases the rate of the ring‐opening/‐closing from a subsecond timescale to hours relative to model compound 1 (without carboxylate). The photochemistry of the network was studied in detail by means of continuous irradiation, monitored by UV/Vis absorption and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic analysis. Although compound 3 is only slightly photoactive, compound 2 ( Ct^? ) reacts in aqueous solutions (λ_irr=313 nm) to form B^? and Cc^? , with a global quantum yield of 0.15, and fully reverts back to Ct^? with a rate constant of k=6.7×10^?5 s^?1. The flavylium cation is no longer formed in methanol, and irradiation of Ct^? leads to the formation of B ^? and the new lactone‐trapped chromene species La . The formation of La takes place through a sequence of three photochemical steps: photoisomerization of Ct ^?, photo‐ring‐closing reaction of Cc ^?, and photolactonization of B ^?. Only the cis/trans isomerization and ring‐closing reactions are thermally reversible on a timescale of seconds and hours, respectively. A photochromic system was achieved in rigid matrices of methanol (at 77 K) and 1‐dodecanol (5 °C) by irradiating lactone La to give a red ortho‐quinone allide through a photo‐ring‐opening reaction; the color disappears with a rate constant of k=1.25×10^?2 s^?1 in 1‐dodecanol at 5 °C.     

Flavylium Network of Chemical Reactions in Confined Media: Modulation of 3′,4′,7‐Trihydroxyflavilium Reactions by Host–Guest Interactions with Cucurbit[7]uril

In moderately acidic aqueous solutions, flavylium compounds undergo a pH‐, and in some cases, light‐dependent array of reversible chemical reactions. This network can be described as a single acid–base reaction involving a flavylium cation (acidic form) and a mixture of basic forms (quinoidal base, hemiketal and cis and trans chalcones). The apparent pK′_a of the system and the relative mole fractions of the basic forms can be modulated by the interaction with cucurbit[7]uril. The system is studied by using ¹H NMR spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy, flash photolysis, and steady‐state irradiation. Of all the network species, the flavylium cation possesses the highest affinity for cucurbit[7]uril. The rate of interconversion between flavylium cation and the basic species (where trans‐chalcone is dominant) is approximately nine times lower inside the cucurbit[7]uril.     

Steric as well as n→π* Interaction Controls the Conformational Preferences of Phenyl Acetate: Gas‐phase Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Calculations

Herein, we report that the conformational preference of phenyl acetate is governed by steric effect and n→π* interaction. Conformation‐specific electronic and IR spectroscopy combined with quantum chemistry calculations confirm the presence of only the cis conformer of phenyl acetate in the experiment. The cis conformer of phenyl acetate has n→π* interaction between the lone‐pair electrons on the carbonyl oxygen atom and the π* orbitals of the phenyl group. The n→π* interaction is absent in the trans conformer which has additional steric repulsion between the methyl group and phenyl ring. The trans conformer is higher in energy than the cis conformer by ≈3 kcal mol^?1. We have found the effect of methyl substitution on the strength of the n→π* interaction, steric repulsion, and hyperconjugation in phenyl acetate. The red‐shift observed in the cis conformer of phenyl acetate with respect to the trans conformer is affected due to the influence of the methyl substituent on the strength of the n→π* interaction as well as hyperconjugation. The present result demonstrates that the introduction of a bulkier substituent can induce steric as well as electronic control to reduce conformational heterogeneity of a molecular system. Understanding the effect of bulkier substituents to promote defined conformations having specific non‐covalent interactions may have implication in better perception of the optimum structure and function of biomolecules as well as recognition of drugs by biomolecules.     

Photoisomerization of trans‐2‐[4′‐(Dimethylamino)styryl]benzothiazole

Photoreaction of trans‐2‐[4′‐(dimethylamino)styryl]benzothiazole (t‐DMASBT) under direct irradiation has been investigated in dioxane, chloroform, methanol and glycerol to understand the mechanism of photoisomerization. Contrary to an earlier report, isomerization takes place in all these solvents including glycerol. The results show that restriction on photoisomerization leads to the increase in fluorescence quantum yield in glycerol. The results are consistent with the theoretically simulated potential energy surface reported earlier using time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations. DFT calculations on cis isomers under isolated condition have suggested that cis‐B conformer is more stable than cis‐A conformer due to hydrogen‐bonding interaction. In the ground state, cis‐DMASBT is predominantly present as cis‐B. The fluorescence spectra of the irradiated t‐DMASBT suggested that photoisomerization follows not the adiabatic path as proposed by Saha et al., but the nonadiabatic path.     

2‐Hydroxyazobenzenes to Tailor pH Pulses and Oscillations with Light

This paper evaluates the 2‐hydroxyazobenzene platform for tailoring proton concentration pulses and oscillations with monochromatic light. The easily prepared 2‐hydroxyazobenzenes exhibit large absorptions in the near‐UV range. Photoisomerization was investigated by UV/Vis absorption, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and steady‐state fluorescence emission. In the whole investigated series, the trans stereoisomer of the 2‐hydroxyazobenzene motif provides the corresponding cis derivative with an action cross section in the 10³ M ^?1 cm^?1 range. At the same time, photoisomerization is accompanied by a significant pK drop of the phenol group. According to the phenyl‐substituent pattern, cis‐to‐trans thermal back‐isomerization can be tuned in the 10 ms–100 s range. Up to 2 units of reversible pH drops or pH oscillations on the 10 s timescale have been obtained by appropriately tailoring single‐wavelength illumination of 2‐hydroxyazobenzene solutions.     

Formation of interstellar vinyl alcohol via simple radical processes: Theoretical study

Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6‐31++G(d,p) level of theory were employed to verify whether the formation of vinyl alcohol (VA) in the interstellar medium can be explained by reactions of common and abundant interstellar species such as acetylene, radicals C₂, HC? C · , · OH, and H · . Several reaction sequences are possible. They include radical combinations, which proceed without activation barriers and are highly exothermic. The reactions of closed‐shell species acetylene and HC?C‐OH with hydrogen atoms, as well as H‐transfer and OH‐rotation processes, might require activation energy. Nevertheless, either the corresponding transition states lay below the reactant level or there are alternative routes that involve no transition states at all, such as the reaction sequences C₂ → HC?C · → HC?CH → trans‐syn‐HC( · )?CH‐OH → syn‐VA; C₂ → HC?C · → syn‐?C?CH‐OH → (trans or cis)‐syn‐HC( · )?CH‐OH → syn‐VA; and C₂ → · C?C‐OH → syn‐:C?CH‐OH → (trans or cis)‐syn‐HC( · )?CH‐OH → syn‐VA. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004     

The photoisomerization of retinal

Abstract— –Quantum efficiencies have been measured for the photoisomerization of four stereoisomers of retinal (all-trans, 13-cis, 11 cis, and 9-cis) in two solvents at different wavelengths of irradiation and at various temperatures. In heane at 25°C the quantum efficiencies for isomerization at 365 nm are: 9-cis to trans, 0.5; 13-cis to trans, 0.4; 11-cis to trans, 0.2; all-trans to monocis isomers, 0.2-0.06, depending upon assumptions made regarding the stereo-isomeric composition of the product. These values vary somewhat with the wavelength of the irradiating light. The quantum efficiency for the photoisomerization of all-trans retinal in hexane decreases by a factor of 30 when the temperature is lowered from 25° to – 65°C; the activation energy for this photoisomerization is about 5 kcal/mole. The quantum efficiencies for the isomerization of the monocis isomers to all-trans retinal in hexane are virtually independent of temperature. In ethanol the rates of photoisomerization from trans to cis or cis to trans depend only slightly on the temperature between 25° and – 65°C. The photosensitivities of the stereoisomers of retinal are of the same order of magnitude as those of the retinylidene chromophores of rhodopsin (11 -cis), metarhodopsin I (all-trans), and isorhodopsin (9-cis); but it is not yet possible to derive the photochemistry of rhodopsin uniquely and quantitatively from that of retinal.     

Radiation-induced cis–trans isomerization of polyisoprenes and temperature dependence of the equilibria

The cis-trans interconversion of polyisoprenes in solutions induced by γ-radiation in the presence of a sensitizer, which is any one of organic bromides or n-butyl mercaptan, was studied by using hevea and gutta percha as starting substances. The percentage cis remaining or converted after irradiation were determined by the infrared absorption. The equilibrium constants for the interconversion at 22, 60, and 100°C. were found to be 3.00, 5.25, and 7.33, respectively. The first-order rate constants for cis → trans and trans → cis isomerizations at 22°C. were calculated to be 9.05 and 2.91, respectively. The results were interpreted by the mechanism proposed by Golub, according to which the double bonds from π complexes with radiolytic fragments from sensitizers give a radical transition state capable of interconversion. However, our results showing that heating shifts the equilibrium toward trans isomer are not in accord with the mechanisms of the radiation-induced isomerization of polybutadiene of Golub and those for photoisomerization of aromatic azo compounds.     

Adiabatic <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans-cis</Emphasis> photoisomerization and photocyclization of 8-styrylquinoline

Kinetics of the photocyclization of trans-8-styrylquinoline into 10a,10b-dihydronaphtho[1,2-h]quinoline (4-azachrysene) was studied in hexane. It was found that in addition to the expected two-step (two-quantum) route with trans-cis photoisomerization occurring in the first step with a quantum yield of φ_tc = 0.13 with consequent photocyclization of the cis-isomer with a quantum yield of 0.23. The direct singlequantum photocyclization of the trans-isomer with a quantum yield of 0.009 is also observed. The latter observation indicates that the excited trans-isomer isomerizes without loss of excitation to the excited cis-isomer, which then undergoes cyclization, i.e., the trans-cis photoisomerization proceeds partially by adiabatic mechanism t* → c*.     

Photoinduced Pedalo‐Type Motion in an Azodicarboxamide‐Based Molecular Switch

Well‐defined structural changes of molecular units that can be triggered by light are crucial for the development of photoactive functional materials. Herein, we report on a novel switch that has azodicarboxamide as its photo‐triggerable element. Time‐resolved UV‐pump/IR probe spectroscopy in combination with quantum‐chemical calculations shows that the azodicarboxamide functionality, in contrast to other azo‐based chromophores, does not undergo trans–cis photoisomerization. Instead, a photoinduced pedalo‐type motion occurs, which because of its volume‐conserving properties enables the design of functional molecular systems with controllable motion in a confined space.     

trans–cis and trans–cis–trans Microstructure Evolution of Azobenzene Liquid‐Crystal Polymer Networks

The photomechanics of azobenzene LCNs is modeled using a nonlinear continuum mechanics approach that couples photoisomerization of liquid crystal domain structures with light absorption and deformation of a glassy polymer network. The effects during UV‐stimulated trans–cis photomechanical deformation versus blue‐green light (trans–cis–trans) photomechanical deformation are simulated. Different bending deformation is predicted by assuming liquid‐crystal order/disorder behavior during trans–cis photoisomerization in comparison to light‐polarization‐driven reorientation of the trans phase during potential trans‐cis‐trans photoisomerization. Light‐controlled deformation mechanisms offer support for improved control of photo‐responsive morphing structures with a single blue‐green polarized light source.

     

trans–cis Photoisomerization of Azobenzene‐Conjugated Dithiolato‐Bipyridine Platinum(II) Complexes: Extension of Photoresponse to Longer Wavelengths and Photocontrollable Tristability

Azobenzene derivatives modified with dithiolato‐bipyridine platinum(II) complexes were synthesized, revealing their highly extended photoresponses to the long wavelength region as well as unique photocontrollable tristability. The absorptions of trans‐ 1 and trans‐ 2 with one azobenzene group on the dithiolene and bipyridine ligands, respectively, cover the range from 300 to 700 nm. These absorptions are ascribed, by means of time‐dependent (TD)DFT calculations, to transitions from dithiolene(π) to bipyridine(π*), namely, interligand charge transfer (CT), π–π*, and n–π* transitions of the azobenzene unit, and π–π* transitions of the bipyridine ligand. In addition, only trans‐ 1 shows distinctive electronic bands, assignable to transitions from the dithiolene(π) to azobenzene(π*), defined as intraligand CT. Complex 1 shows photoisomerization behavior opposite to that of azobenzene: trans‐to‐cis and cis‐to‐trans conversions proceed with 405 and 312 nm irradiation, which correspond to excitation with the intraligand CT, and π–π* bands of the azobenzene and bipyridine units, respectively. In contrast, complex 2 shows photoisomerization similar to that of azobenzene: trans‐to‐cis and cis‐to‐trans transformations occur with 365 and 405 nm irradiation, respectively. Irradiation at 578 nm, corresponding to excitation of the interligand CT transitions, results in cis‐to‐trans conversion of both 1 and 2 , which is the longest wavelength ever reported to effect the photoisomerization of the azobenzene group. The absorption and photochromism of 4 , which has azobenzene groups on both the dithiolato and bipyridine ligands, have characteristics quite similar to those of 1 and 2 , which furnishes 4 with photocontrollable tristability in a single molecule using light at 365, 405, and 578 nm. We also clarified that 1 and 2 have high photoisomerization efficiencies, and good thermal stability of the cis forms. Complexes 3 and 5 have almost the identical photoresponse to those of their positional isomers, complexes 2 and 4 .     

The keto→enol photoisomerization of N‐salicilydenemethylfurylamine: Nonadiabatic ab initio dynamics simulation

The photoinduced isomerization of cis‐keto and trans‐keto isomers in N‐salicilydenemethylfurylamine has been studied using the surface‐hopping approach at the CASSCF level of theory. After the cis‐keto or trans‐keto isomer is excited to S₁ state, the molecule initially moves to a excited‐state local minimum. The torsional motion around relative bonds in the chain drives the molecule to approach a keto‐form conical intersection and then nonadiabatic transition occurs. According to our full‐dimensional dynamics simulations, the trans‐keto and enol photoproducts are responsible for the photochromic effect of cis‐keto isomer excited to S₁ state, while no enol isomer was obtained in the photoisomerization of trans keto on excitation. The cis keto to enol and cis keto to trans keto isomerizations are reversible photochemical reactions. It is confirmed that this aromatic Schiff base is a potential molecular switch. Furthermore, the torsion of C N bond occurs in the radiationless decay of trans‐keto isomer, while it is completely suppressed by an intramolecular hydrogen bonding interaction in the dynamics of cis‐keto form. Moreover, the excited‐state lifetime of cis keto is longer than that of trans‐keto form due to the O···H N hydrogen bond.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Intramolecular [3+2] Cycloadditions of 1‐Aryl‐1‐allene‐6‐enes

Treatment of 1‐aryl‐1‐allen‐6‐enes with [PPh₃AuCl]/AgSbF₆ (5 mol %) in CH₂Cl₂ at 25 °C led to intramolecular [3+2] cycloadditions, giving cis‐fused dihydrobenzo[a]fluorene products efficiently and selectively. The reactions proceeded with initial formation of trans/cis mixtures of 2‐alkyl‐1‐isopropyl‐2‐phenyl‐1,2‐dihydronaphthalene cations B, which were convertible into the desired cis‐fused cycloadducts through the combined action of a gold catalyst and a Brønsted acid. Theoretic calculation supports the participation of the trans‐B cation as reaction intermediate. Although HOTf showed similar activity towards several 1‐aryl‐1‐allen‐6‐enes, it lacks generality for this cycloaddition reaction.     

1,2‐Dithienyldicyanoethene‐Based,Visible‐Light‐Driven,Chiral Fluorescent Molecular Switch: Rewritable Multimodal Photonic Devices

Reported here is the first example of a 1,2‐dithienyldicyanoethene‐based visible‐light‐driven chiral fluorescent molecular switch that exhibits reversible trans to cis photoisomerization. The trans form in solution almost completely transforms into the cis form, accompanied by a 10‐fold decrease in its fluorescence intensity within 60 seconds when exposed to green light (520 nm). The reverse isomerization proceeds upon irradiation with blue light (405 nm). When doped into commercially available achiral liquid crystal hosts, this molecular switch efficiently induces luminescent helical superstructures, that is, a cholesteric phase. The intensity of the circularly polarized fluorescence as well as the selective reflection wavelength of the induced cholesteric phases can be reversibly tuned using visible light of two different wavelengths. Optically rewritable photonic devices using cholesteric films containing this molecular switch are described.     

NMR study on 9‐S and 9‐R oxirane derivatives of ascomycin

Structure elucidation of 9‐S and 9‐R oxirane derivatives of ascomycin, a 23‐membered immunomodulating macrolactam, was performed using NMR spectroscopy. The total ¹H and ¹³C signal assignments required the gradient‐selected versions of COSY (gs‐COSY), heteronuclear multiple quantum‐correlation spectroscopy (gs‐HSQC), heteronuclear multiple‐bond correlation spectroscopy (gs‐HMBC), and nuclear Overhauser methods. The data sets then were used to examine the dependence of ketone–hemiketal and cis–trans amide equilibria on the substitution pattern and the absolute configuration of the chiral oxirane. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Etude du mecanisme de photolyse des complexes cis- et trans-[PtCl2(C2H4)(4-CH3C5H4N)]. Influence de la concentration et de la longueur d'onde

Photodimerization, photoisomerization and photosubstitution quantum yields are measured for cis- and trans-[PtCl₂(C₂H₄)(4-CH₃C₅H₄N)], at various concentrations and wavelengths. Dissociation of the platinumethylene bond o?curs with a quantum yield nearly unity when the cis-compléx is irradiated in the charge transfer bands 5d → π^*(C₂H₄). Dissociation is also observed, but with a lower efficiency, at longer wavelengths. A cis → trans-photoisomerization reaction, probably via a low energy dd excited state is observed at 313,366 and 405 nm, with a constant quantum yield.     

NMR signal assignment of cis/trans‐conformational segments in MEH‐CN‐PPV

Poly[2‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐5‐methoxy‐1,4‐phenylene‐(1‐cyanovinylene)] MEH‐CN‐PPV and its all‐trans model compound 1,4‐bis(α‐cyanostyryl)‐2‐(2‐ethylhexyloxy)‐5‐methyloxybenzene were synthesized via Knoevenagel condensation. All‐cis isomer and cis–trans isomer of 1,4‐bis(α‐cyanostyryl)‐2‐(2‐ethylhexyloxy)‐5‐methyloxybenzene were prepared by the photoisomerization reaction. Comparison of the ¹H NMR spectra between MEH‐CN‐PPV and three model compounds proved the occurrence of cis‐vinylene in the backbone of MEH‐CN‐PPV. According to the ratio between the cis‐vinylene signal and trans‐vinylene signal, the content of the cis‐vinylene could be estimated to be 15% in MEH‐CN‐PPV. This large cis‐vinylene content came from the rapid photochemical isomerization of cyanovinylene and was likely relative to the poor electroluminescence property of MEH‐CN‐PPV. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1105–1113, 2008     

Tuning the Photoisomerization of a N^C‐Chelate Organoboron Compound with a Metal?Acetylide Unit

To examine the impact of metal moieties that have different triplet energies on the photoisomerization of B(ppy)Mes₂ compounds (ppy=2‐phenyl pyridine, Mes=mesityl), three metal‐functionalized B(ppy)Mes₂ compounds, Re‐B , Au‐B , and Pt‐B , have been synthesized and fully characterized. The metal moieties in these three compounds are Re(CO)₃(tert‐Bu₂bpy)(C?C), Au(PPh₃)(C?C), and trans‐Pt(PPh₃)₂(C?C)₂, respectively, which are connected to the ppy chelate through the alkyne linker. Our investigation has established that the Re^I unit completely quenches the photoisomerization of the boron unit because of a low‐lying intraligand charge transfer/MLCT triplet state. The Au^I unit, albeit with a triplet energy that is much higher than that of B(ppy)Mes₂, upon conjugation with the ppy chelate unit, substantially increases the contribution of the π→π* transition, localized on the conjugated chelate backbone in the lowest triplet state, thereby leading to a decrease in the photoisomerization quantum efficiency (QE) of the boron chromophore when excited at 365 nm. At higher excitation energies, the photoisomerization QE of Au‐B is comparable to that of the silyl–alkyne‐functionalized B(ppy)Mes₂ ( TIPS‐B ), which was attributable to a triplet‐state‐sensitization effect by the Au^I unit. The Pt^II unit links two B(ppy)Mes₂ together in Pt‐B , thereby extending the π‐conjugation through both chelate backbones and leading to a very low QE of the photoisomerization. In addition, only one boron unit in Pt‐B undergoes photoisomerization. The isomerization of the second boron unit is quenched by an intramolecular energy transfer of the excitation energy to the low‐energy absorption band of the isomerized boron unit. TD‐DFT computations and spectroscopic studies of the three metal‐containing boron compounds confirm that the photoisomerization of the B(ppy)Mes₂ chromophore proceeds through a triplet photoactive state and that metal units with suitable triplet energies can be used to tune this system.     

trans‐Selective Insertional Dihydroboration of a cis‐Diborene: Synthesis of Linear sp3‐sp2‐sp3‐Triboranes and Subsequent Cationization

The reaction of aryl‐ and amino(dihydro)boranes with dibora[2]ferrocenophane 1 leads to the formation 1,3‐trans‐dihydrotriboranes by formal hydrogenation and insertion of a borylene unit into the B=B bond. The aryltriborane derivatives undergo reversible photoisomerization to the cis‐1,2‐μ‐H‐3‐hydrotriboranes, while hydride abstraction affords cationic triboranes, which represent the first doubly base‐stabilized B₃H₄⁺ analogues.