5 research outputs found
Light-Controlled Macrocyclization of Tetrathiafulvalene with Azobenzene: Designing an Optoelectronic Molecular Switch
Macrocyclization between tetrathiafulvalene
(TTF) dithiolates and
bis-bromomethylazobenzenes/bis-bromomethylstilbenes is investigated
under high dilution conditions. We show that macrocycles of different
size can be formed depending on whether the (<i>Z</i>)-
or (<i>E</i>)-isomers of azobenzene (AB) or stilbene are
used. This represents the first example of a light-controllable cyclization
reaction. The oxidation potential of the small, structurally rigid
TTF–AB macrocycle is found to depend on the conformation of
the AB moiety, opening the way for the modulation of redox properties
by an optical stimulus. DFT calculations show that the out-of-plane
distortion of the TTF moiety in this macrocycle is responsible for
the variation of its oxidation potential upon photoisomerization of
the neighboring AB bridge