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Systems containing multiple photochromic units possibly display a synergistic interplay of individual switching events and hence potentially give rise to unprecedented photoresponsive behavior. Among such systems photoswitchable foldamers are attractive as the photoisomerization events are coupled to the helixcoil conformational transition. To gain comprehensive insight into the role of the number of switching units (statistics) as well as their specific location and relative orientation in the helix backbone, several series of foldamers have been synthesized and characterized. In these series of foldamers, the local environment of the photoswitchable units was precisely tuned as π,π-stacking interactions were enforced to occur between specific pairs, i.e. azobenzene–azobenzene, azobenzene–tolane, or phenylene–phenylene units. These particular arrangements are reflected not only in the stability of the helical conformation, but also affect the photoresponsive behavior, i.e. the rate of photoisomerization and extent of denaturation. Furthermore, determining the intramolecular spin–spin distance in a series of TEMPO-labeled foldamers with variable chain lengths and different spatial locations of the spin-labels deduced an independent verification of the photoinduced helix–coil transition by ESR spectroscopy. Quantitative analysis of the corresponding ESR spectra shows an excellent correlation of the extent of intramolecular spin–spin coupling and the intensity of the Cotton effect in CD spectroscopy. From all of these results an unusual relationship between the rate of photoisomerization and the extent of photoinduced denaturation could be unraveled, as they are not going hand-in-hand but compete with each other, i.e. the easier the individual switching event is, the harder it becomes to achieve a high degree of unfolding. This insight into the effect of microenvironment on the ease of individual switching events and the role of statistics on the resulting degree of the overall conformational transition is of general interest for the design of multi-switch architectures with improved photoresponse.
The dynamics at the interface between a close-packed porphyrin monolayer and Au(111) is investigated by time-dependent scanning tunneling microscopy, detecting the motion of single-interface adatoms in real space. Imaging sequences reveal predominant switching of the molecular appearance in adjacent molecules, pointing to a spatial correlation that is consistent with adatom diffusion from one molecule to the next. In some cases, the number of switching molecules is drastically increased, indicating collective switching events. In addition to the thermally induced motion of adatoms at the interface, also voltage pulses from the microscope tip can induce the process—revealing different yields in agreement with the model of adatom hopping.
A two-component core-shell UiO-68 type metal-organic framework (MOF) with a nonfunctionalized interior for efficient guest uptake and storage and a thin light-responsive outer shell was prepared by initial solvothermal MOF synthesis followed by solvent-assisted linker exchange. The bulky shell linker features two tetra-ortho-fluorinated azobenzene moieties to exploit their advantageous photoisomerization properties. The obtained perfect octahedral MOF single crystals can be switched repeatedly and with an unprecedented efficiency between E- and Z-rich states using visible light only. Due to the high photoswitch density per pore of the shell layer, its steric demand and thus molecular uptake (and release) can be conveniently modulated upon green and blue light irradiation. Therefore, the "smart" shell acts as a light-controlled kinetic barrier or "gate" for the diffusion of cargo molecules in and out of the MOF crystals.
Synthetic molecular systems undergoing structure and property changes as a response to external stimuli offer a series of relevant functions. Their direct use in solution, immobilized at surfaces, or integrated into adequate matrices, allow for the elaboration of nano-carriers, molecular electronic memory circuits, adaptive systems, artificial muscles, or healable materials, among others. Reversible systems are commonly generated by utilizing molecular switches as responsive bi-stable molecules. Of particular interest are switches controlled by non-invasive triggers, especially light, which can display high spatial and temporal resolution. Photoswitches were used to change properties, such as conductance and basicity, based on light-induced alteration of the molecular geometry, that is, their dimensions and shape. In nature, light-induced geometrical modifications of molecular systems lead to primary biological functions, such as the visual perception in vertebrates, or proton pumping in some bacteria, two examples that nicely illustrate the potential of photo-inducing structural modifications in organic systems.
Various aldehyde-containing photoswitches have been developed whose reactivity toward amines can be controlled externally. A thermally stable bifunctional diarylethene, which in its ring-closed form exhibits imine formation accelerated by one order of magnitude, was used as a photoswitchable crosslinker and mixed with a commercially available amino-functionalized polysiloxane to yield a rubbery material with viscoelastic and self-healing properties that can be reversibly tuned by irradiation.
Efficient Cu-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions have been used to prepare two series of three regioisomers of G-1 and G-2 poly(triazole-pyridine) dendrons. The G-1 and G-2 dendrons consist of branched yet conformationally pre-organized 2,6-bis(phenyl/pyridyl-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine (BPTP) monomeric and trimeric cores, respectively, carrying one focal and either two or four peripheral alkyl side chains. In the solid state, the conformation and supramolecular organization were studied by means of a single crystal X-ray structure analysis of one derivative. At the liquidsolid interface, the self-assembly behavior was investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) on graphite surfaces. Based on the observed supramolecular organization, it appears that the subtle balance between conformational preferences inherent in the dendritic backbone on the one side and the adsorption and packing of the alkyl side chains on the graphite substrate on the other side dictate the overall structure formation in 2D.
Healable materials could play an important role in reducing the environmental footprint of our
modern technological society through extending the life cycles of consumer products and constructions. However, as most healing processes are carried out by heat alone, the ability to heal damage generally kills the parent material’s thermal and mechanical properties. Here we
present a dynamic covalent polymer network whose thermal healing ability can be switched ‘on’ and ‘off’ on demand by light, thereby providing local control over repair while retaining the advantageous macroscopic properties of static polymer networks. We employ a photoswitchable furan-based crosslinker, which reacts with short and mobile maleimidesubstituted poly(lauryl methacrylate) chains forming strong covalent bonds while simultaneously allowing the reversible, spatiotemporally resolved control over thermally induced de- and re-crosslinking. We reason that our system can be adapted to more complex materials and has the potential to impact applications in responsive coatings, photolithography and microfabrication.
The adsorption of porphyrin derivatives on a Au(111) surface was studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy at low temperatures in combination with density functional theory calculations. Different molecular appearances were found and could be assigned to the presence of single gold adatoms bonded by a coordination bond underneath the molecular monolayer, causing a characteristic change of the electronic structure of the molecules. Moreover, this interpretation could be confirmed by manipulation experiments of individual molecules on and off a single gold atom. This study provides a detailed understanding of the role of metal adatoms in surface–molecule bonding and anchoring and of the appearance of single molecules, and it should prove relevant for the imaging of related molecule–metal systems.