A simple strategy to overcome concentration dependence of photoswitching properties in donor–acceptor Stenhouse adducts. Issue 4 (25th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Connolly, Sean W.; Tiwari, Rahul; Holder, Simon J.; Shepherd, Helena J.
• Is Part Of: Physical chemistry chemical physics. Volume 23:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 2775
• Page End: 2779
• Publication Date: 2021-01-25
• Subjects: Chemistry, Physical and theoretical -- Periodicals; 541.3
• DOI: 10.1039/d0cp06312f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-9076

Abstract

Abstract : The use of piperazine-based donor moieties results in complete, rapid and reversible photoswitching behaviour for first generation donor–acceptor Stenhouse adducts (DASAs), eliminating issues with concentration dependence. Abstract : Photoswitchable donor–acceptor Stenhouse adducts (DASAs) have been reported to exhibit an undesirable concentration dependence, where photoswitching is greatly inhibited with increasing photochrome concentration. Here we show that the use of piperazine-based donor moieties eliminates this concentration dependence and results in complete, rapid and reversible photoswitching behaviour for first generation DASAs, even in chlorinated solvents. Structural data and computational studies reveal proton transfer during isomerisation to the terminal amine rather than the donor amine. The improvement in photoswitching efficiency is attributed to resultant differences in supramolecular association.