Precious metal-free molecular machines for solar thermal energy storage

• Meglena I. Kandinska,
• Snejana M. Kitova,
• Vladimira S. Videva,
• Stanimir S. Stoyanov,
• Stanislava B. Yordanova,
• Stanislav B. Baluschev,
• Silvia E. Angelova and
• Aleksey A. Vasilev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 1096–1106, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.106

• dyes 4b and 4d with substituents in 5-position of the benzothiazole moiety demonstrated much better photophysical properties as molecular switches and MOST materials in comparison with the unsubstituted known analogs. The calculated thermodynamic changes associated with metal-ion complexation in the

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

• molecular switches in photo and mechanoresponsive macromolecules and other smart materials. Keywords: bridged azobenzene; diazocine; mechanophor; oxidative C–C coupling; photochrome; reductive azo cyclization; Introduction The field of photoresponsive materials is of growing interest [1][2][3]. Several

Oxidative and reductive cyclization in stiff dithienylethenes

• Michael Kleinwächter,
• Ellen Teichmann,
• Lutz Grubert,
• Martin Herder and
• Stefan Hecht

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 2812–2821, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.259

• dithienylethenes bearing benzonitrile substituents an additional and rare reductive electrocyclization was observed. The mechanism underlying both observed electrocyclization pathways has been elucidated. Keywords: diarylethenes; electrochromism; molecular switches; (spectro)electrochemistry; Introduction

Some mechanistic aspects regarding the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction between selected ortho-substituted phenylboronic acids and 3,4,5-tribromo-2,6-dimethylpyridine

• Piotr Pomarański,
• Piotr Roszkowski,
• Jan K. Maurin,
• Armand Budzianowski and
• Zbigniew Czarnocki

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 2384–2393, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.214

• ). Considering further applications of atropisomeric arylated pyridines in the design of new materials like molecular switches [4], it would be desirable to estimate their thermal stability. We therefore performed kinetic experiments in order to establish the value of the barrier to rotation in the

Tetrathiafulvalene – a redox-switchable building block to control motion in mechanically interlocked molecules

• Hendrik V. Schröder and
• Christoph A. Schalley

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 2163–2185, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.190

• MIMs and their applications. A brief historical overview and a selection of important examples from the past until now are given. Furthermore, we will highlight our latest research on TTF-based rotaxanes. Keywords: artificial molecular machines; mechanically interlocked molecules; molecular switches

A pyridinium/anilinium [2]catenane that operates as an acid–base driven optical switch

• Sarah J. Vella and
• Stephen J. Loeb

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 1908–1916, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.165

• molecule; molecular switch; Introduction [2]Rotaxane molecular shuttles [1][2][3][4][5] are the dynamic building blocks of a wide variety of molecular switches [6][7][8][9] and a number of sophisticated molecular machines that operate away from equilibrium [10][11][12][13][14][15]. We have previously

• reported [2]rotaxane molecular switches containing a single dibenzo[24]crown ether DB24C8 wheel and two different recognition sites; benzylanilinium and 1,2-bis(pyridinium)ethane [16]. These shuttles operate as bistable switches driven by acid/base chemistry and can be optically sensed by either a change

A hemicryptophane with a triple-stranded helical structure

• Augustin Long,
• Olivier Perraud,
• Erwann Jeanneau,
• Christophe Aronica,
• Jean-Pierre Dutasta and
• Alexandre Martinez

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 1885–1889, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.162

• part). They display recognition properties toward neurotransmitters and carbohydrates, and can act as molecular switches and supramolecular catalysts [11]. Their C3 symmetry makes them promising candidates to build molecular cages displaying a triple helical arrangement of the linkers. Furthermore, we

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

• 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

• dispersion forces to be a significant factor, even in the presence of hydrogen bonds. Keywords: azobenzene; hydrogen bonding; London dispersion; molecular switches; Introduction The photo-controlled E→Z isomerization of azobenzene has been known for decades [1] and has originated a wide field of

Construction of bis-, tris- and tetrahydrazones by addition of azoalkenes to amines and ammonia

• Artem N. Semakin,
• Aleksandr O. Kokuev,
• Yulia V. Nelyubina,
• Alexey Yu. Sukhorukov,
• Petr A. Zhmurov,
• Sema L. Ioffe and
• Vladimir A. Tartakovsky

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 2471–2477, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.241

• modulation of the molecular geometry, for example through coordination with metal cations, hydrogen bond formation or irradiation. These unique structural features of the hydrazone fragment have been successfully exploited in the design of various molecular switches, fluorophores and machines. Bis- and

Synthesis and properties of fluorescent 4′-azulenyl-functionalized 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridines

• Adrian E. Ion,
• Liliana Cristian,
• Mariana Voicescu,
• Masroor Bangesh,
• Augustin M. Madalan,
• Daniela Bala,
• Constantin Mihailciuc and
• Simona Nica

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 1812–1825, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.171

• remarkable optical and redox properties, azulene proved to be an excellent building block for developing a large variety of materials ranging from NLO chromophores [13] to molecular switches [14][15] and liquid crystals [16] or high-conductance materials [17]. In contrast to most aromatic compounds which

Organic chemistry meets polymers, nanoscience, therapeutics and diagnostics

• Vincent M. Rotello

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 1638–1646, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.161

• together to generate molecular switches and devices [13]. This work has continued through our long productive collaboration with Graeme Cooke, now at University of Glasgow, moving from redox-active systems [14][15] to photovoltaics (along with Ifor Samuel at St. Andrew’s) [16]. Go big, go nano After four

Supramolecular chemistry: from aromatic foldamers to solution-phase supramolecular organic frameworks

• Zhan-Ting Li

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2015, 11, 2057–2071, doi:10.3762/bjoc.11.222

• interlocked systems and molecular switches [77][78]. Our longstanding interest in foldamers prompted us to explore the application of this noncovalent force for the generation of new, folded patterns. Thus, Lan Chen prepared polymers P31a and P31b from the corresponding dialdehyde and di(acylhydrazine

Star-shaped tetrathiafulvalene oligomers towards the construction of conducting supramolecular assembly

• Masahiko Iyoda and
• Masashi Hasegawa

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2015, 11, 1596–1613, doi:10.3762/bjoc.11.175

• amphiphilic TTFs (13 and 14) (Figure 5) [54][55][56] After that, many research efforts have been focused on the construction of conducting nanoobjects possibly employed as nanosized electric wires, wirings, molecular switches, and devices. Some neutral nanoobjects derived from TTFs show electroconductivity

• is a promising way of realizing molecular switches and devices [62][63][64][65]. With this in mind, hexadehydrotris(TTF)[12]annulenes 28 and 29 and dodecadehydrotris(TTF)[18]annulenes 30 and 31 were synthesized using palladium-mediated coupling reactions (Scheme 2) [20][25][26][66][67][68]. Tris(TTF

Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of β-triazoloporphyrin–xanthone dyads

• Dileep Kumar Singh and
• Mahendra Nath

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2015, 11, 1434–1440, doi:10.3762/bjoc.11.155

• porphyrins can be modulated by introducing diverse functionalities on their periphery or changing the metal ions in the porphyrin core [3][4]. Due to the high thermal stability and extended π-electron system, porphyrins are very useful for the construction of molecular switches [5][6] and other organic

Glycoluril–tetrathiafulvalene molecular clips: on the influence of electronic and spatial properties for binding neutral accepting guests

• Yoann Cotelle,
• Marie Hardouin-Lerouge,
• Stéphanie Legoupy,
• Olivier Alévêque,
• Eric Levillain and
• Piétrick Hudhomme

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2015, 11, 1023–1036, doi:10.3762/bjoc.11.115

• giving rise to three stable redox states) characteristics, more and more sophisticated TTF-based supramolecular systems have been designed, being able to operate as machines, chemical sensors, redox-switchable ligands, molecular shuttles, molecular switches and logic gates [11]. Considering that

Discrete multiporphyrin pseudorotaxane assemblies from di- and tetravalent porphyrin building blocks

• Mirko Lohse,
• Larissa K. S. von Krbek,
• Sebastian Radunz,
• Suresh Moorthy,
• Christoph A. Schalley and
• Stefan Hecht

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2015, 11, 748–762, doi:10.3762/bjoc.11.85

• structures, functional supramolecular architectures such as molecular switches and motors [43][44][45] as well as artificial muscles [46][47][48][49][50], have been synthesized. Due to their four-fold symmetry, porphyrins are excellent candidates to extend these concepts to tetravalent supramolecules. Beyond

Substitution effect and effect of axle’s flexibility at (pseudo-)rotaxanes

• Friedrich Malberg,
• Jan Gerit Brandenburg,
• Werner Reckien,
• Oldamur Hollóczki,
• Stefan Grimme and
• Barbara Kirchner

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2014, 10, 1299–1307, doi:10.3762/bjoc.10.131

• binding is weakened by approximately 10 kcal/mol, and hydrogen bonds are slightly shortened (by up to 0.2 Å). Keywords: dispersion interaction; hydrogen bond; supramolecular chemistry; template; theoretical chemistry; Introduction Rotaxanes are prototypes for molecular machines and molecular switches [1

Flow microreactor synthesis in organo-fluorine chemistry

• Hideki Amii,
• Aiichiro Nagaki and
• Jun-ichi Yoshida

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2013, 9, 2793–2802, doi:10.3762/bjoc.9.314

• gave pentafluorobenzene (PFB) in 92% yield (14.7 kg). Molecular switches based on photochromic diarylethenes are one of the most promising electronic materials [73]. In particular, a number of 1,2-bis(heteroaryl)-substituted perfluorocyclopentenes have been synthesized for use as photosensitive

Spin state switching in iron coordination compounds

• Philipp Gütlich,
• Ana B. Gaspar and
• Yann Garcia

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2013, 9, 342–391, doi:10.3762/bjoc.9.39

Synthesis and testing of the first azobenzene mannobioside as photoswitchable ligand for the bacterial lectin FimH

• Vijayanand Chandrasekaran,
• Katharina Kolbe,
• Femke Beiroth and
• Thisbe K. Lindhorst

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2013, 9, 223–233, doi:10.3762/bjoc.9.26

• adhesive surfaces. Keywords: azobenzene glycosides; bacterial adhesion; E/Z photoisomerisation; FimH antagonists; mannobiosides; molecular switches; sweet switches; Introduction Adhesion of bacteria to surfaces can be a severe problem both in vivo and in vitro. Hence, inhibition of bacterial adhesion by

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

• ; 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

A bisazobenzene crosslinker that isomerizes with visible light

• Subhas Samanta,
• Harris I. Qureshi and
• G. Andrew Woolley

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2012, 8, 2184–2190, doi:10.3762/bjoc.8.246

• -lifetimes may be longer when the crosslinker is attached to a biomolecule, it appears the para-piperazine unit may be best suited for applications where rapid thermal relaxation is required. Keywords: azobenzene; molecular switches; switch; photo-control; visible; Introduction Azobenzene derivatives have

Design and synthesis of quasi-diastereomeric molecules with unchanging central, regenerating axial and switchable helical chirality via cleavage and formation of Ni(II)–O and Ni(II)–N coordination bonds

• Vadim A. Soloshonok,
• José Luis Aceña,
• Hisanori Ueki and
• Jianlin Han

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2012, 8, 1920–1928, doi:10.3762/bjoc.8.223

• diastereomeric transformations are considered as the most promising models for the development of molecular switches with nondestructive read out of the optical information [14][15][16][17][18]. Taking into account the issue of fatigue resistance or durability of a potential molecular switch, the newly emerging

• –ligand coordination bonds, as a potentially useful and conceptually new model for the development of a new generation of organic chiroptical molecular switches [24][25]. Thus, achiral C2-symmetric pentadentate ligands 1 were able to coordinate with d8 metals [Ni(II) or Pd(II)] to form tetra-coordinated

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

• ]. On the other hand, the isomerization can also occur through a rotation mechanism [11][30], which involves a π→π* transition (S0→S2) (Figure 3). This mechanism is similar to that produced in the isomerization of stilbene [23]. Azobenzenes as molecular switches A molecular switch is a molecular system