A toolbox of molecular photoswitches to modulate the CXCR3 chemokine receptor with light

• Xavier Gómez-Santacana,
• Sabrina M. de Munnik,
• Tamara A. M. Mocking,
• Niels J. Hauwert,
• Shanliang Sun,
• Prashanna Vijayachandran,
• Iwan J. P. de Esch,
• Henry F. Vischer,
• Maikel Wijtmans and
• Rob Leurs

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 2509–2523, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.244

• the binding affinity for the target protein [3][4][5] or the intrinsic functional activity (efficacy) [6][7]. Despite the considerable number of photoswitches reported to date, such as spiropyrans, diarylethenes, fulgides or azobenzenes, the most widely used moiety in the photopharmacology is the

• yields of photoisomerization with relatively low intensity of light and minimal photobleaching even over hundreds of cycles. A third reason is the relatively high synthetic accessibility to azobenzenes. All these properties make azobenzene compounds ideal molecular photoswitches to control protein

• atom of 1e. These calculations indicate that CXCR3 agonism is more likely to be associated with the cis-isomer than with the trans-isomer in our designed azobenzenes. Synthesis of azobenzene analogues and exploration of substitution pattern on the outer aromatic ring In addition to unsubstituted

In search of visible-light photoresponsive peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) for reversible control of DNA hybridization

• Lei Zhang,
• Greta Linden and
• Olalla Vázquez

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 2500–2508, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.243

• (Figure 1B): 1) second generation azobenzenes based on the tetra-ortho-fluoroazobenze (oF4Azo) developed by Hecht [43] and 2) hemithioindigos (HTI) rediscovered by Rück-Braun [44] and Dube [45], which have not been studied in the context of DNA/RNA as molecular transducer yet. Both compounds were

Ultrafast processes triggered by one- and two-photon excitation of a photochromic and luminescent hydrazone

• Alessandro Iagatti,
• Baihao Shao,
• Alberto Credi,
• Barbara Ventura,
• Ivan Aprahamian and
• Mariangela Di Donato

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 2438–2446, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.236

• photoswitches have been developed and successfully employed in many technological fields [20][21][22][23]. Among others, azobenzenes [24], spiropyranes [25], diarylethenes [26] and their derivatives have been intensively applied. Despite the numerous successful applications of several synthetized switches, some

Reversible switching of arylazopyrazole within a metal–organic cage

• Anton I. Hanopolskyi,
• Soumen De,
• Michał J. Białek,
• Yael Diskin-Posner,
• Liat Avram,
• Moran Feller and
• Rafal Klajn

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 2398–2407, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.232

• photochromism in the spiropyran switch [18]. Other recent studies of photochromic systems within macrocyclic and supramolecular hosts [19] include dihydroazulene switches [20] and red-shifted azobenzenes [21][22] inside cucurbiturils and cyclodextrins. The behavior of light-responsive compounds can also be

• on the prototypical arylazopyrazole 1 [35] (Scheme 1) and a previously reported [48] metal–organic cage 2 (see Figure 1). We have recently demonstrated that various azobenzenes formed 2:1 inclusion complexes with 2 [49] and hypothesized, based on the structural similarity between azobenzenes and

• 1:1 complexes of 2 with the Z isomers of various azobenzenes are notoriously difficult to crystallize [18]. We believe that the insights by DFT calculations reported here for (Z-1)2 can be extended to the complexes of 2 with other Z-azo guests as well. To gain further insight into the

Azologization and repurposing of a hetero-stilbene-based kinase inhibitor: towards the design of photoswitchable sirtuin inhibitors

• Christoph W. Grathwol,
• Nathalie Wössner,
• Sören Swyter,
• Adam C. Smith,
• Enrico Tapavicza,
• Robert K. Hofstetter,
• Anja Bodtke,
• Manfred Jung and
• Andreas Link

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 2170–2183, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.214

• physicochemical properties upon irradiation with light, represent one major approach to this. One of the most common light-driven transformations exploited in molecular photoswitches is the E–Z isomerization of double bonds [18]. In this context, the photochemistry of stilbenes and the closely related azobenzenes

• azobenzenes are more convenient as already proven by their use as photoswitches in countless biological applications [26][27][28][29][30]. However, their heteroaromatic counterparts still seem underrepresented [31]. The approach to new chemotypes for sirtuin inhibition via known adenosine mimicking kinase

Fluorinated azobenzenes as supramolecular halogen-bonding building blocks

• Esther Nieland,
• Oliver Weingart and
• Bernd M. Schmidt

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 2013–2019, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.197

• , Universitätsstraße 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany 10.3762/bjoc.15.197 Abstract ortho-Fluoroazobenzenes are a remarkable example of bistable photoswitches, addressable by visible light. Symmetrical, highly fluorinated azobenzenes bearing an iodine substituent in para-position were shown to be suitable supramolecular

• azobenzenes with different halogen bonding donor properties are discussed in relation to their changing photophysical properties, rationalized by DFT calculations. Keywords: azobenzene; DFT calculations; fluorine chemistry; halogen bonding; photochemistry; Introduction The halogen bond is an attractive

• substituting azobenzenes in the ortho-positions to the N=N bond with electron-withdrawing fluorine substituents [45][46], the red-shifting of the n→π* transitions enables selective addressing of both the E- and Z-isomer using visible light. Stabilization of the n-orbitals in the Z-isomers leads to a very high

Norbornadiene-functionalized triazatriangulenium and trioxatriangulenium platforms

• Roland Löw,
• Talina Rusch,
• Tobias Moje,
• Fynn Röhricht,
• Olaf M. Magnussen and
• Rainer Herges

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 1815–1821, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.175

• ; quadricyclane; self-assembled monolayers; TATA platform; thermal isomerization; TOTA platform; Introduction Recently, we discovered that the thermochemically forbidden cis–trans isomerization of azobenzenes can be efficiently catalysed by a very peculiar mechanism on bulk gold [1]. In heterogeneous catalysis

• parameter controlling the cis–trans rate acceleration of azobenzenes and not the length of the spacer [1]. A full conjugation path from the azobenzene on top through the ethynyl spacer and the platform to a bulk gold surface shortens the half-life of the metastable cis-isomer from days to seconds even

An azobenzene container showing a definite folding – synthesis and structural investigation

• Abdulselam Adam,
• Saber Mehrparvar and
• Gebhard Haberhauer

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 1534–1544, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.156

• . As expected, the connection of the two macrocycles 2a and 3a via two trans-azobenzenes (trans,trans-10) results in a longer distance between the macrocycles compared to a connection via two cis-azobenzenes (cis,cis-10). The distance between the centers of the two macrocycles in the trans,trans-isomer

Diazocine-functionalized TATA platforms

• Roland Löw,
• Talina Rusch,
• Fynn Röhricht,
• Olaf Magnussen and
• Rainer Herges

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 1485–1490, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.150

• Abstract Recently, it has been shown that the thermochemical cis→trans isomerization of azobenzenes is accelerated by a factor of more than 1000 by electronic coupling to a gold surface via a conjugated system with 11 bonds and a distance of 14 Å. The corresponding molecular architecture consists of a

• gold. To investigate this mechanism further and to examine scope and limitation of the “spin-switch catalysis” we now prepared analogous diazocine systems. Diazocines, in contrast to azobenzenes, are stable in the cis-configuration. Upon irradiation with light of 405 nm the cis-configuration isomerizes

• coupling to a bulk gold surface via a conjugated linker over 11 bonds and 14 Å [11]. Thermal cis→trans isomerizations of azobenzenes are usually slow with half-lives of the trans-isomer within the range of hours to days at room temperature (parent azobenzene: 4–5 d at 25 °C) [12]. Rotation around the N=N

Reversible end-to-end assembly of selectively functionalized gold nanorods by light-responsive arylazopyrazole–cyclodextrin interaction

• Maximilian Niehues,
• Patricia Tegeder and
• Bart Jan Ravoo

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 1407–1415, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.140

• cycles. By the introduction of AAP, previous disassembly limitations based on the photostationary states of azobenzenes could be solved. The combination photoresponsive interaction and selectively end-functionalized nanoparticles shows significant potential in the reversible self-assembly of inorganic

• azobenzenes that form inclusion complexes with α- or β-CD exclusively in the trans configuration, not in the cis configuration [26]. This light-responsive interaction has been recently applied by Ma et al. for the end-to-end assembly of AuNR [27]. However, the system showed some limitations as the assembly

• -functionalized with the CD, no assembly could be observed after addition of the divalent azobenzene linker. Moreover, the assemblies could only once be disassembled by the combination of UV irradiation and physical forces by sonication. The light-induced back-isomerization of azobenzenes did not form similar end

Azologization of serotonin 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists

• Karin Rustler,
• Galyna Maleeva,
• Piotr Bregestovski and
• Burkhard König

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 780–788, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.74

• hybrid biomolecule. In this context, various photochromic scaffolds including dithienylethenes, fulgi(mi)des, and azobenzenes are investigated [31][42]. The latter ones were already discovered in 1834 by E. Mitscherlich [43] but it took around another 100 years till G. S. Hartley [44] revealed their

• photo-induced trans–cis isomerization representing the time of birth of the azobenzene photoswitch. Benefiting of their accessible synthesis, large change in polarity and geometry upon switching, excellent photochromic properties and tuneability, azobenzenes are amongst the most widely used photochromic

• trans-isomer as biologically active configuration whereas its bent cis-isomer should be inactive. Synthesis of the quinoxaline-based azobenzenes The synthesis of the unsubstituted quinoxaline-based azobenzene derivatives 5a and 5b is based on a Baeyer [62]–Mills [63] reaction (Scheme 2). Therefore

Synthesis of functionalized diazocines for application as building blocks in photo- and mechanoresponsive materials

• Widukind Moormann,
• Daniel Langbehn and
• Rainer Herges

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 727–732, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.68

• mechanophores such as azobenzene [4][5][6][7][8], diarylethene [9][10][11][12][13] and spiropyrans [14][15][16][17][18] have been investigated as photoswitchable building blocks. Bridged azobenzenes also known as diazocines exhibit excellent photochemical properties but applications are limited and suitably

• functionalized compounds are rare [19][20][21][22][23]. In contrary to azobenzenes, diazocines 1 are stable in their cis configuration. The bent cis isomer is less prone to π–π stacking which is known to reduce the switching efficiency (Figure 1a) [19][24]. The reverse stability of the cis and trans isomers in

• azobenzenes and diazocines should allow reciprocal applications in mechanoresponsive materials and in photopharmacology [25]. Another advantage of diazocines over azobenzenes is their switchability in the visible range (400 nm cis → trans, 530 nm trans → cis) preventing deterioration of the material or tissue

Synthesis of mono-functionalized S-diazocines via intramolecular Baeyer–Mills reactions

• Miriam Schehr,
• Daniel Hugenbusch,
• Tobias Moje,
• Christian Näther and
• Rainer Herges

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 2799–2804, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.257

• 10.3762/bjoc.14.257 Abstract Herein we report a reliable method to synthesize mono-functionalized S-diazocines in reproducible yields via intramolecular Baeyer–Mills reactions. Diazocines exhibit excellent photoswitchable properties. As opposed to azobenzenes they are more stable in their cis

• configuration. Particularly in photopharmacology mono-functionalized diazocines should be potentially useful and superior to the frequently used azobenzenes because the sterically more demanding cis configuration should be inactive, and the slender trans configuration should fit in a tight binding pocket of a

• field in medicine aiming at the development of drugs whose biological activity can be controlled with light [1][2][3][4]. There are several reported pharmacologically active compounds containing azobenzenes as photoswitchable units [5][6][7]. In most cases these drugs are active in the more stable trans

Hydroarylations by cobalt-catalyzed C–H activation

• Rajagopal Santhoshkumar and
• Chien-Hong Cheng

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 2266–2288, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.202

• alkynes with azobenzenes 1 to synthesize dialkenated products 2 (Scheme 4) [32]. The reaction resulted in an anti-addition of the C–H bond with alkynes using the cobalt(I) catalysts CoH(N2)(PPh3)3 or CoH3(PPh3)3 under neat reaction conditions. After fifteen years, Yoshikai and co-workers developed a low

• , Prabhu and co-workers also reported a Co-catalyzed hydroarylation reaction of maleimides with indoles [86]. The hydroarylation of maleimides was further demonstrated with different arenes (Scheme 31). Thus, azobenzenes 1 were subjected to alkylation reaction with maleimides to form a variety of

• C–H carbonylation. Hydroarylation by C–H activation. Pathways for cobalt-catalyzed hydroarylations. Co-catalyzed hydroarylation of alkynes with azobenzenes. Co-catalyzed hydroarylation of alkynes with 2-arylpyridines. Co-catalyzed addition of azoles to alkynes. Co-catalyzed addition of indoles to

London dispersion as important factor for the stabilization of (Z)-azobenzenes in the presence of hydrogen bonding

• Andreas H. Heindl,
• Raffael C. Wende and
• Hermann A. Wegner

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 1238–1243, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.106

• Andreas H. Heindl Raffael C. Wende Hermann A. Wegner Institut für Organische Chemie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 17, 35392 Gießen, Germany 10.3762/bjoc.14.106 Abstract The understanding and control of the light-induced isomerization of azobenzenes as one of the most

• important classes of molecular switches is crucial for the design of light-responsive materials using this entity. Herein, we present the stabilization of metastable (Z)-azobenzenes by London dispersion interactions, even in the presence of comparably stronger hydrogen bonds in various solvents. The Z→E

• isomerization rates of several N-substituted 4,4′-bis(4-aminobenzyl)azobenzenes were measured. An intramolecular stabilization was observed and explained by the interplay of intramolecular amide and carbamate hydrogen bonds as well as London dispersion interactions. Whereas in toluene, 1,4-dioxane and tert

Determination of the absolute stereostructure of a cyclic azobenzene from the crystal structure of the precursor containing a heavy element

• Reji Thomas and
• Nobuyuki Tamaoki

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 2211–2215, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.212

• solvent etc. [45][46][47][48][49][50]. Although we could separate the enantiomers of all these chiral cyclic azobenzenes, the experimental determination of the absolute stereostructure by X-ray diffraction was difficult due to the lack of heavy elements. In the present study, we demonstrate the

The role of alkyl substituents in deazaadenine-based diarylethene photoswitches

• Christopher Sarter,
• Michael Heimes and
• Andres Jäschke

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 1103–1110, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.106

• ][18][19][20][21]. Most reported applications use azobenzenes, while diarylethenes, spiropyrans, fulgides and hemithioindigos are applied less frequently [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. Diarylethenes are an important class of photoswitches. Originally developed for optical

Azobenzene-based inhibitors of human carbonic anhydrase II

• Leander Simon Runtsch,
• David Michael Barber,
• Peter Mayer,
• Michael Groll,
• Dirk Trauner and
• Johannes Broichhagen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2015, 11, 1129–1135, doi:10.3762/bjoc.11.127

• of the synthesized azobenzenes, we found that the electronic structure does not strongly affect inhibition. Taken together, all compounds are strong blockers of hCAII with Ki = 25–65 nM that are potentially photochromic and thus combine studies from chemical synthesis, crystallography and enzyme

• (Figure 1b) [5]. Furthermore, sulfonamide-containing azobenzenes exhibit affinity and blocking ability for hCAII (Figure 1c) [6]. With our knowledge in azobenzene chemistry and photopharmacology, we aimed to further understand how electronic substitution patterns on azobenzenes correlate to changes in

• enzyme affinity. Results and Discussion Azobenzenes can be synthesized by a variety of known chemical transformations [8]. Among them the most widely used is the diazotization of aniline, followed by trapping of the diazonium salt with an electron-rich aromatic compound (such as anilines and phenols

Synthesis of photoresponsive cholesterol-based azobenzene organogels: dependence on different spacer lengths

• Yuchun Ren,
• Bin Wang and
• Xiuqing Zhang

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2015, 11, 1089–1095, doi:10.3762/bjoc.11.122

• have been utilized in supramolecular systems [19]. Examples of several cholesterol-linked azobenzenes with gel–sol reversible changes also have been studied [20][21][22][23]. R. Zentel found that the photoinduced reversible gel–sol changes between isotropic and anisotropic gels of a class of

Synthesis and characterization of a new photoinduced switchable β-cyclodextrin dimer

• Florian Hamon,
• Claire Blaszkiewicz,
• Marie Buchotte,
• Estelle Banaszak-Léonard,
• Hervé Bricout,
• Sébastien Tilloy,
• Eric Monflier,
• Christine Cézard,
• Laurent Bouteiller,
• Christophe Len and
• Florence Djedaini-Pilard

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2014, 10, 2874–2885, doi:10.3762/bjoc.10.304

• to the guest molecules [9][10]. These cyclodextrins linked by ester [11], thioether [12][13][14][15][16], urea [17][18][19], or triazole [20] moieties have been previously described. In addition, aromatic azobenzenes are excellent candidates as molecular switch linkers as they have two forms, namely

Photoswitchable precision glycooligomers and their lectin binding

• Daniela Ponader,
• Sinaida Igde,
• Marko Wehle,
• Katharina Märker,
• Mark Santer,
• David Bléger and
• Laura Hartmann

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2014, 10, 1603–1612, doi:10.3762/bjoc.10.166

• oligomer shape and concomitantly in the sugar ligands accessibility. Indeed, dramatic shrinking of rigid-rod polymers for example, occurs upon photoirradiation when several azobenzenes are introduced in the main-chain, the embedded photoswitches acting as hinges [17][18]. In the present study, an

• ), whereas 10% of E,E-isomer did not isomerize (see Supporting Information File 1 for more details). This values correspond to a total amount of 80% of Z-azobenzenes in the PSS mixture, in accordance to the 78% of Z-azobenzene found in the PSS solution of Azo-Gal(1,3)-3 upon irradiation at 360 nm, indicating

Amino-substituted diazocines as pincer-type photochromic switches

• Hanno Sell,
• Christian Näther and
• Rainer Herges

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2013, 9, 1–7, doi:10.3762/bjoc.9.1

• Abstract Azobenzenes are robust, reliable, and easy to synthesize photochromic switches. However, their high conformational flexibility is a disadvantage in machine-like applications. The almost free rotation of the phenyl groups can be restricted by bridging two ortho positions with a CH2CH2 group, as

• ; molecular pincer; molecular switches; photochromic compound; Introduction Azobenzenes probably are the most frequently used photochromic switches in chemistry. They are employed as molecular actuators to drive a number of dynamic machine-like functions [1]. To achieve sophisticated engineering tasks such

• or with other molecules. Therefore, we explore different approaches to prepare diazocine derivatives. Since the nomenclature is not unambiguous and, hence, potentially confusing, we refer to 5,6-dihydrodibenzo[c,g][1,2]diazocine derivatives as 2,2’-ethylene-bridged azobenzenes (EBABs). Results and

Design and synthesis of a photoswitchable guanidine catalyst

• Philipp Viehmann and
• Stefan Hecht

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2012, 8, 1825–1830, doi:10.3762/bjoc.8.209

• rac-lactide in order to explain the findings. Keywords: azobenzenes; guanidines; molecular switches; organocatalysis; photochromism; ring opening polymerization; Introduction The macroscopic properties of a given polymer, e.g., the glass-transition temperature, morphology, density and tensile

Control over molecular motion using the cis–trans photoisomerization of the azo group

• Estíbaliz Merino and
• María Ribagorda

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2012, 8, 1071–1090, doi:10.3762/bjoc.8.119

• .8.119 Abstract Control over molecular motion represents an important objective in modern chemistry. Aromatic azobenzenes are excellent candidates as molecular switches since they can exist in two forms, namely the cis (Z) and trans (E) isomers, which can interconvert both photochemically and thermally

• external stimuli. Keywords: azobenzenes; molecular switches; nanomachines; photoisomerization; Review This review is based on an article published in 2009 in Anales de Química (Real Sociedad Española de Química) [1]. Azobenzene was described for the first time in 1834 [2] and one century later, in 1937

• switches described so far. The azobenzenes are organic molecules that present two aromatic rings linked by an azo group (N=N). They have properties that have led to some applications of great importance, mainly for the chemical industry. The azobenzenes are highly coloured compounds and belong to the group

The effect of the formyl group position upon asymmetric isomeric diarylethenes bearing a naphthalene moiety

• Renjie Wang,
• Shouzhi Pu,
• Gang Liu and
• Shiqiang Cui

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2012, 8, 1018–1026, doi:10.3762/bjoc.8.114

• molecules must possess the following properties: (1) low cytotoxicity, (2) high sensitivity, (3) easy chemical modification. In the past few decades, various types of photochromic molecules, such as fulgides, spiropyranes, azobenzenes, and diarylethenes, have been developed [2][23][24][25][26][27][28][29