Twisted Hemithioindigo Photoswitches: Solvent Polarity Determines the Type of Light-Induced Rotations

• DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b05981
• Publication Date: 2016-08-29T14:58:39Z
• Authors: Sandra Wiedbrauk; Benjamin Maerz; Elena Samoylova; Anne Reiner; Florian Trommer; Peter Mayer; Wolfgang Zinth; Henry Dube
• Keywords: Polarity (international relations); Photoswitch; Molecular switch; Quantum yield; Reaction coordinate

Controlling the internal motions of molecules by outside stimuli is a decisive task for generation responsive and complex molecular behavior functionality. Light-induced structural changes photoswitches are special high interest due to ease signal application repeatability. Typically use one reaction coordinate in their switching process change between two more or less-defined states. Here we report on new twisted hemithioindigo enabling different coordinates be used process. Depending polarity solvent, either complete single bond (in DMSO) double cyclohexane) rotation can induced visible light. This mutually independent establishes an unprecedented two-dimensional control intramolecular rotations this class photoswitches. The mechanistic explanation involves formation highly polar charge-transfer species excited state based large body experimental quantifications, most notably ultrafast spectroscopy quantum yield measurements solvents polarity. concept pre-twisting ground open new, should transferable other photoswitching systems.