Effect of strain on the photoisomerization and stability of a congested azobenzenophane: a combined experimental and computational study

The stability and trans-cis photoisomerization properties of a macrocycle constituted of two para-aminoazobenzene units connected by two methylene bridges have been investigated by a combination of experimental and computational techniques. Irradiation at 365 nm leads to a photostationary state in which only 50% of the azobenzene units have isomerized, in contrast with the behavior of para-aminoazobenzene, whose photoconversion is larger than 80%. In the case of the macrocycle, a faster cis --> trans thermal back-reaction is observed. To assist the interpretation of the experimental results, molecular mechanics and quantum chemical calculations have been carried out. Of the possible conformers, the most stable trans-trans geometric isomer has been identified along with the more plausible trans-cis and cis-cis isomers. Ground-state energy barriers along the NN torsional coordinates were also computed, along with excitation energies and intensities for the species that can contribute to the photostationary state. The calculations point to a sequential photoisomerization mechanism and support a predominance of the trans-cis photoproduct with minor contributions from the cis-cis species. The thermal and photochemical reactivity of the examined macrocycle is compared to that of previously investigated azobenzenophanes and explained in terms of strain and substituent effects both concurring to favor the thermal cis --> trans back-reaction.     

[1.1]meta-Stilbenophanes as calixarene analogs: preparation, crystal structure, and cis-trans photoisomerization

Three isomers of [1.1]meta-stilbenophane were synthesized by the McMurry reaction of diarylmethane dialdehyde and their crystal structures and photochemical properties were investigated. X-ray crystallographic analyses of these isomers revealed that they were assigned to a trans-trans (t-t) form with a 1,3-alternate conformation, a cis-trans (c-t) form with a distorted-cone conformation, and a cis-cis (c-c) form with a 1,2-alternate conformation. A ¹H NMR study indicated that a t-t isomer could be completely transformed into a 35:65 mixture of c-t and c-c isomers by photoirradiation at 254 nm.     

Effects of molecular configuration of a chiral trimeric phenylene vinylene on its liquid crystalline properties

Based on an analysis of the ~1H NMR,FT-IR,UV-vis spectra,a chiral trimeric phenylene vinylene derivative(ChTPV) synthesized by a Wittig reaction was determined to have a trans-cis configuration, and it could be isomerized to the trans-trans isomer when treated with iodine.The melting point of ChTPV with a trans-trans configuration increased by 162.1℃compared to the trans-cis isomer,and the ChTPV with trans-trans configuration exhibited the typical liquid-crystalline texture of the smectic A in the heating process.The results indicated that the molecular configuration can influence the formation of the liquid crystalline phase of ChTPV.     

A disilapentalene and a stable diradical from the reaction of a dilithiosilole with a dichlorocyclopropene

The reaction of 1,1-dilithio-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylsilole (1) with 1,1-dichloro-2,3-diphenylcyclopropene (2) leads to the novel 1,4-disila-1,4-dihydropentalene (4), as well as an exceptionally stable diradical for which the structure 3 is suggested. The diradical is unreactive toward water, methanol, and chloroform; upon heating it transforms into 4. Structure 3 for the paramagnetic species is proposed on the basis of EPR data and theoretical calculations. The trans-trans isomer of diradical 3 was calculated to be more stable than its cis-cis isomer. The strong and stable EPR signal in the reaction mixture is probably due to the trans-trans isomer of diradical 3 in the triplet state. A reaction scheme describing the formation of 3 and 4 is presented.     

Unconventional thermodynamically stable cis isomer and trans to cis thermal isomerization in reversibly photoresponsive [0.0](3,3')-azobenzenophane

Sterically hindered [0.0](3,3')-azobenzenophane exhibits thermal trans-to-cis isomerization to the thermodynamically stable cis-cis isomer, and reversible photochemical isomerization with good fatigue resistance.     

Dimers of the higher-energy conformer of formic acid: experimental observation

We report on the first experimental observation of formic acid dimers composed of two molecules of the higher-energy cis conformer. The cis-cis formic acid dimers are prepared in an argon matrix by selective vibrational excitation of the ground state trans conformer (deuterated form HCOOD) combined with thermal annealing of the matrix at about 30 K. Five cis-cis formic acid dimers are predicted by ab initio calculations (interaction energies from -16.9 to -27.2 kJ mol(-1)), and these structures are used for the assignment of the experimental spectra. Selective vibrational excitation of the obtained cis-cis dimers leads to the formation of several trans-cis dimers, which supports the proposed assignments.     

High-energy conformer of formic acid in solid neon: giant difference between the proton tunneling rates of cis monomer and trans-cis dimer

We study the conformational reorganization of formic acid (FA) in solid neon and report the higher-energy cis-FA monomer and one form of the trans-cis FA dimers. They were prepared by selective vibrational excitation of the trans-FA monomer and trans-trans dimer. The proton tunneling decay of cis-FA monomer is surprisingly very fast in solid neon, two orders of magnitude faster than in solid argon. It was also found that the stability of the trans-cis dimer against proton tunneling is enormously enhanced in solid neon compared to the monomer (by a factor of approximately 300). These results are discussed in terms of matrix solvation and hydrogen bonding.     

Photoresponsive supramolecular systems: self-assembly of azodibenzoic acid linear tapes and cyclic tetramers

A new strategy to effect photoinduced control over molecular self-assembly is reported. This strategy uses the reversible trans-cis photoisomerization of a novel azobenzene system, where the trans- and cis-forms self-assemble into dramatically different higher-order structures. The trans-azobenzene form of this molecule associates into infinite hydrogen-bonded linear tapes, while the cis-azobenzene form undergoes hydrogen-bonded self-assembly into cyclic tetramers. This results in a second level of association, where the cis-hydrogen-bonded supramolecular cycles ultimately form long, rod-like aggregates through stacking interactions.     

Kinetic analysis of the thermal isomerisation pathways in an asymmetric double azobenzene switch

Here we report a photochemical and kinetic study of the thermal relaxation reaction of a double azobenzene system, in which two azobenzene photochromic units are connected via a phenyl ring. Upon UV irradiation, three thermally unstable isomers are formed. Kinetic studies using arrayed (1)H-NMR spectroscopy revealed four distinct barriers for the thermal reversion to the stable isomer. The double isomerised Z,Z-2 can revert thermally to the E,E-2 isomer via either of two isomerisation pathways. The thermal Z to E isomerisations are not significantly affected by the state of the neighbouring azo-switching unit in the meta position. These findings are supported by quantum chemical calculations on the thermal Z to E isomerisation.     

Photochemical phase transition behaviour of polymer azobenzene liquid crystals with flexible siloxane units as a side-chain spacer

The influence of the spacer structure on the photochemical phase transition behaviour was explored for azobenzene polymer liquid crystals (azo-PLCs) possessing siloxane spacers in the polymer side chain, and for analogue without the siloxane spacer. The photochemical phase transition of the azo-PLC with the siloxane spacer was found to proceed less effectively than that of the azo-PLC without the siloxane spacer. It was also confirmed that the spacer structure does not affect the trans-cis photoisomerization behaviour of the azobenzene moieties. These results were interpreted in terms of stabilization of the alignment of the mesogens in the liquid crystalline phase by the siloxane spacer, since the siloxane chain is one of the most flexible spacers and decouples the motion of the polymer backbone from that of the aligned mesogens. Furthermore, the response of the azo-PLCs in the photochemical phase transition was evaluated by means of a laser pulse. The phase transition occurred in 300 mus for both samples.     

Photochemical reaction of azobenzene in solvent-swollen Nafion membranes

The photochemical reactions of azobenzene (AB) incorporated into different solvent-swollen Nafion membranes were investigated. The location of azobenzene in water-swollen Nafion membranes was different from that in methanol-swollen Nafion membranes, which was responsible for the different photochemical reactions of AB. In methanol-swollen Nafion membranes only trans-cis isomerization took place, while in water-swollen Nafion membranes photochemical cyclization of AB occurred after rapid trons-cis isomerization. The relation between the relative quantum yields and the light intensity showed that the cyclization was a two-photo process. The numbers of AB molecules per cluster (nAB /cluster) in Nafion membranes with different AB concentrations and different water contents were calculated. Under the experimental condition two competitive photocyclization mechanisms were suggested by nAB /cluster in Nafion membranes, relative quantum yields of the cyclization, and the change of the ratio of benzidine to benz     

Photochemical and thermal reactions of a kinetically stabilized 9-silaanthracene: the first spectroscopic observation of a 9,10-Dewar-9-silaanthracene isomer

A kinetically stabilized 9-silaanthracene (1) underwent unique photochemical and thermal reactions to afford 9,10-Dewar-9-silaanthracene 2a and the head-to-tail [4 + 4] dimer 3, respectively. The structure of 2a was confirmed by 1H, 13C, and 29Si NMR spectra, and the kinetic parameters for the thermal reversion of 2a to 1 were obtained by the measurement of UV/vis spectra. The dimer 3 was thermally stable, and the molecular structure of 3 was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. It was experimentally demonstrated for the first time that 9-silaanthracene, as well as anthracene, can afford either the Dewar isomer or [4 + 4] dimer, depending on the reaction conditions.     

Trans-cis photoisomerization of azobenzene by n→π* excitation:A semiclassical dynamics study

A realistic dynamics simulation study is reported for the trans-cis photoisomerization of azobenzene triggered by the n→π*excitation and the results show that the formation of cis isomer follows the rotational motion around the N=N bond.The simulation find that the CNN bond angle bending vibrations also play a significant role in the vibronic coupling between the HOMO and LUMO,which essentially leads a nonadiabatic transition of the molecule to the electronic ground state.     

How the arming participating moieties can broaden the scope of chemoselective oligosaccharide synthesis by allowing the inverse armed-disarmed approach

A new method for stereocontrolled glycosylation and chemoselective oligosaccharide synthesis has been developed. It has been determined that complete 1,2-trans selectivity can be achieved with the use of a 2-O-picolyl moiety, a novel neighboring group that is capable of efficient participation via a six-membered intermediate. The application of the picolyl concept to glycosidations of thioimidoyl, thioglycosyl, and trichloroacetimidoyl glycosyl donors is demonstrated. The picolyl moiety also retains the glycosyl donor in the armed state, as opposed to conventional acyl participating moieties. We name this new approach the "inverse armed-disarmed" strategy, because it allows for the chemoselective introduction of a 1,2-trans glycosidic linkage prior to other linkages. In the context of the oligosaccharide synthesis, the strategy provides trans-trans and trans-cis patterned oligosaccharides as opposed to classic Fraser-Reid's armed-disarmed approach leading to cis-trans and cis-cis linkages.     

Communication: Time-resolved fluorescence of highly single crystalline molecular wires of azobenzene

We report the enhanced fluorescence with the remarkably long lifetime (1.17 ns) in the first excited state (S(1)) of highly crystalline molecular wires of azobenzene at the excitation wavelength of 467 nm for the first time. This observation suggests that trans-cis photoisomerization through the rotation or inversion mechanism may not be a favorable pathway after excitation to the S(1) state in highly single crystalline molecular wires of azobenzene due to the hindered motion within densely packed crystal structure. We also measured the fluorescence lifetime image of a single crystalline molecular wire of azobenzene, indicating that the lifetime was remarkably uniform and that there was only a very minor variation within the crystal.     

Surface organization, light-driven surface changes, and stability of semifluorinated azobenzene polymers

A series of polymers with 4-perfluoroalkyl-modified azobenzene side groups was investigated for its light-induced changes in surface properties. The ultraviolet (UV) light activated trans to cis isomerization of the azobenzene group, and the influence of molecular order and orientation on this process were studied using near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy and water contact angle measurements. Light-induced molecular reorganization in the near-surface region was studied by NEXAFS using in situ UV irradiation of polymer thin films. Differential scanning calorimetry and wide-angle X-ray scattering studies showed that sufficiently long fluoroalkyl groups formed well-ordered smectic mesophases in the bulk, as well as on the surface, which was evidenced by NEXAFS. The disruption of mesogen packing by photoisomerization was found to be influenced by the fluoroalkyl segment length. Surfaces with perfluorohexyl and perfluorooctyl groups that showed high orientational order were also highly resistant to light-induced changes. In such cases, the trans-cis isomerization resulted in greater lowering of the azobenzene phenyl ring order parameters than the perfluoroalkyl order parameters. UV exposure caused reorientation of the phenyl rings of the azobenzene group, but the terminal perfluoroalkyl segments remained more or less ordered.     

Novel crystal structure, cis-trans isomerization, and host property of meta-substituted macrocyclic azobenzenes with the shortest linkers

Azobenzenophanes, in which two (2), three (3), and four (4) azobenzene units are connected cyclically by methylene linkers at the meta positions, were synthesized. The effect of ring strain on the structure and the photochemical and the thermal isomerization of azobenzene were investigated. Complex formation with guest species such as alkali metal cations and solvent molecules was observed. X-ray crystal analyses revealed the crystal structure of all three isomers of 2. Compound 2(t,c) was distorted due to the ring strain and 2(c,c) was not deformed. Both 3 and 4 formed supramolecular channel structures in which an azobenzenophane molecule holds a solvent molecule in the molecular cavity. Upon exposure to light, 2, 3, and 4 exhibited stepwise trans-cis photoisomerization in solutions. The quantum yields for all isomerization steps of 2 were determined, and these values suggested that interactions between chromophores such as energy transfer and/or steric distortion affect the isomerization process. The lifetime of 2(c,c) (19.7 days) was longer than that of 2(t,c) (6.1 days) at room temperature. The relative stability of these isomers was explained by the isokinetic (or compensation) relationship between deltaH++ and deltaS++ values and by the effect of the ring strain. The relative energies of three isomers of 2 were estimated by HF/6-31G** calculations, and these values indicated that 2(t,c) has the largest ring strain. Complexes (1:1 and 2:1) between macrocycles and alkali metal cations (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+) were observed by ESIMS. The cation selectivity was shifted upon photoirradiation especially in 4.     

椅式(8,8)单壁碳纳米管内偶氮苯的顺反异构化

采用ONIOM(B3LYP/6-31+G*:UFF)方法对偶氮苯受限于椅式单壁碳纳米管CNT(8,8)内的结构、电子光谱和热致顺反异构化势能面进行了计算.结果表明,反式偶氮苯进入CNT(8,8)碳纳米管内是一个放热过程.由于碳纳米管的限制作用,偶氮苯分子的苯环绕CN键有一定的旋转,反式偶氮苯的平面结构发生扭曲,但其它结构参数变化不明显.受限于碳纳米管内的偶氮苯的顺反异构体能量差比非受限状态下增加了8.1 kJ.mol-1,表明碳纳米管的限制作用对偶氮苯顺反异构体的相对热稳定性有一定影响.光谱计算表明,受限于碳纳米管内的偶氮苯最低的三个单线态吸收波长仅蓝移1-5 nm.异构化势能面计算发现,偶氮苯在CNT(8,8)碳纳米管内发生反式到顺式异构化的能垒增加,由顺式回复到反式异构体的能垒无明显变化,表明CNT(8,8)碳纳米管的限制作用可以抑制偶氮苯从反式到顺式异构体的热致异构化过程.此外,受限状态下的偶氮苯主要通过CNN键角反转发生热致异构化.     

Cooperative effects in two-dimensional ring-like networks of three-center hydrogen bonding interactions

Cooperative effects in two-dimensional cyclic networks containing intermolecular three-centered hydrogen bonding interactions of the type H1...A...H2 are investigated by means of ab intio molecular orbital and density functional theory calculations. Ring-like clusters consisting of three and up to nine monomers of the cis-cis isomer of carbonic acid H2CO3 are used as basic models, where each unit acts simultaneously as a double hydrogen-bond donor and double hydrogen-bond acceptor. Cooperative effects based on binding energies are evident for (H2CO3)n, where n goes from 2 to 9. Thus, the ZPVE-corrected dissociation energy per bifurcated hydrogen bond increases from 11.52 kcal/mol in the dimer to 20.42 kcal/mol in the nonamer, i.e., a 77% cooperative enhancement. Cooperative effects are also manifested in such indicators as geometries, and vibrational frequencies and intensities. The natural bond orbital analysis method is used to rationalize the results in terms of the substantial charge delocalization taking place in the cyclic clusters. Cooperativity seems close to reaching an asymptotic limit in the largest ring considered, n = 9.     

Exploring the coordination chemistry of isomerizable terpyridine derivatives for successful analyses of cis and trans isomers by travelling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry

The photochemical cis-trans isomerization of the 4-{4-[2-(pyridin-4-yl)ethenyl]phenyl}-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine ligand (vpytpy) was investigated by UV-vis, NMR and TWIM-MS. Ion mobility mass spectrometry was performed pursuing the quantification of the isomeric composition during photolysis, however an in-source trans-to-cis isomerization process was observed. In order to overcome this inherent phenomenon, the isomerization of the vpytpy species was suppressed by complexation, reacting with iron(ii) ions, and forming the [Fe(vpytpy)(2)](2+) complex. The strategy of "freezing" the cis-trans isomerizable ligand at a given geometric conformation was effective, preventing further isomerization, thus allowing the distinction of each one of the isomers in the photolysed mixture. In addition, the experimental drift times were related to the calculated surface areas of the three possible cis-cis, cis-trans and trans-trans iron(ii) complex isomers. The stabilization of the ligand in a given conformation also allows us to obtain the cis-cis and cis-trans complexes exhibiting the ligand in the metastable cis-conformation, as well as in the thermodynamically stable trans-conformation.