Comparative study of azobenzene and stilbene bridged crown ether p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene

Photo-switchable calixarenes consisting of a stilbene or azobenzene bridge, spanning the narrow rim as a switching unit, were synthesized through reductive coupling of o-, m- and p-bis-benzaldehyde and bis-nitrobenzene-substituted calix[4]arenes. Both cis- and trans-stilbenes were produced from the reductive coupling of the o- and m-bis-benzaldehyde with the cis isomer being predominant for both regioisomers, whilst the coupling of p-bis-benzaldehyde gave only cis product. On the other hand, the only isolable product obtained from the reductive coupling of bis-o- and bis-m-nitrobenzene was the corresponding trans-azobenzene and the coupling product from bis-p-nitrobenzene was not stable. Each of the synthesized compounds showed a photostationary state in their cis-trans isomerization. The complexation of alkali metal ions was observed for only the o-azobenzene derivative suggesting that the lone pair of N-atom in the azo bridge participates in this process.     

Stilbene-bridged tert-butylcalix[4]arene as photoswitchable molecular receptors

Using a designed control of conformations of tert-butylcalix[4]arene between cone and pinched cone, a highly selective receptor for small electron-deficient molecules with photoswitching binding ability was attained. [reaction: see text]     

Electronic absorption spectroscopy probed side-chain movement in chromic transitions of polydiacetylene vesicles

Thermochromism, solvatochromism, and alkalinochromism of a poly-10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (poly(PCDA)) vesicle solution are studied by electronic absorption spectroscopy. The spectroscopic profiles reveal different sequences of side-chain movement during the chromic transitions. The gradual hypsochromic shift and reversibility of the purple solution at low temperature in the thermochromic transition indicates that the transition starts with reversible conformational alteration of methylene side chains leading to metastable purple vesicles. Further heating to 80 degrees C or higher eventually causes the hydrogen bonds at the carboxylic head groups to break and turns the vesicle solution to red. The irreversibility of the red vesicles indicates that it is the most thermodynamically stable form. In the ethanolochromism and alkalinochromism, the processes are however induced at the vesicle-media interface, directly bringing about the hydrogen bond breaking. The purple solutions observed in the ethanolochromism and alkalinochromism cannot reverse back to the blue one. The absorption spectra clearly demonstrate that they are mixtures of the blue and red vesicles.     

X-ray guided H NMR analysis of pinched cone calix[4]arenes

The analysis of structural parameters of azobenzene- and stilbene-bridged calix[4]arene obtained from AM1 calculation are in good agreement with those obtained from X-ray crystallography. The bridge longer than 9.0 Å such as p,p-trans-azobenzene and p,p-trans-stilbene cannot be constructed over the narrow rim of calix[4]arene through two ethylene oxide linkers. The m,m-stilbene bridge is the most promising photo switch because its shorter cis stereoisomer (5.85 Å) allows calix[4]arene to assume the perfect cone conformation, whilst its longer trans stereoisomer (8.00 Å) forces calix[4]arene to adapt a pinched cone conformation. The pinched cone conformation has longer distances between the neighbouring phenoxyl groups causing the weaker intramolecular hydrogen bonding and the upfield shifts of the phenolic proton signals to below 7.00 ppm. This upfield shift is useful for quick identification of pinched cone conformation of new calix[4]arene compounds.