Chemistry | 2019
Arylazo-3,5-dimethylisoxazoles - Azoheteroarene photoswitches exhibiting high Z-isomer stability, solid state photochromism and reversible light-induced phase transition.
Abstract
Reversibly photoswitchable phenylazo-3,5-dimethylisoxazole and 37 aryl substituted derivatives have been synthesized. Excellent photoswitching ability of these molecules in solution and solid phase has been demonstrated. Through kinetics studies using NMR spectroscopy, a long Z-isomer stability has also been perceived. Interestingly, majority of the derivatives showed the light-induced contrasting colour changes in solution as well as the solid phase. Apart from that, many derivatives exhibit partial phase transition upon UV light irradiation. The highlight of this class of photoswitches is the reversible light-induced phase transition between solid and liquid phases in the parent compound that can be used in patterned crystallization. All these results on this new class of azoheteroarene based photoswitches provide opportunities to be useful in various domains.