Substituent effects in N-acetylated phenylazopyrazole photoswitches

• Radek Tovtik,
• Dennis Marzin,
• Pia Weigel,
• Stefano Crespi and
• Nadja A. Simeth

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 830–838, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.66

• -art technologies ranging from energy-storage materials [6][7] to pharmacology [8][9][10][11], materials chemistry [12][13], control of peptides structure [14][15] or proteins [16], as antibacterial agents [17][18], smart coating [19], or multivalent photoresponsive systems [20][21], to name only a few

Effect of substitution position of aryl groups on the thermal back reactivity of aza-diarylethene photoswitches and prediction by density functional theory

• Misato Suganuma,
• Daichi Kitagawa,
• Shota Hamatani and
• Seiya Kobatake

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 242–252, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.16

• , various application examples of molecular photoswitches have been reported so far including volumetric 3D printing [12][13], photoresponsive semiconductors [14][15][16][17], photopharmacology [18][19], energy storage materials [20][21][22][23], data storage materials [24], super-resolution microscopy [25

• ) photoswitches [33][34], in which molecules isomerize upon photoirradiation and can maintain their state for a long time in the dark, are used for optical memories [35], displays [36][37], and photoresponsive actuators [38][39]. In contrast, the thermally reversible-type (T-type) photoswitches [40][41][42], in

Supramolecular assemblies of amphiphilic donor–acceptor Stenhouse adducts as macroscopic soft scaffolds

• Ka-Lung Hung,
• Leong-Hung Cheung,
• Yikun Ren,
• Ming-Hin Chau,
• Yan-Yi Lam,
• Takashi Kajitani and
• Franco King-Chi Leung

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1590–1603, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.142

• Abstract In the design of photoharvesting and photoresponsive supramolecular systems in aqueous medium, the fabrication of amphiphilic photoswitches enables a noninvasive functional response through photoirradiation. Although most aqueous supramolecular assemblies are driven by high-energy and biodamaging

• fabrication of visible-light-controlled macroscopic scaffolds, offering the next generation of biomedical materials with visible-light-controlled microenvironments and future soft-robotic systems. Keywords: donor–acceptor Stenhouse adduct; photoresponsive molecular amphiphile; supramolecular transformation

• functionalized with photoresponsive and photoabsorbing functional motifs, serving as the counterpart of natural photosystems. This allowed to construct smart materials that harvest light energy, e.g., solar cells, photosensitizers, and photochromic materials [1][2][3][4]. Supramolecular assemblies are commonly

Switchable molecular tweezers: design and applications

• Pablo Msellem,
• Maksym Dekthiarenko,
• Nihal Hadj Seyd and
• Guillaume Vives

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 504–539, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.45

Radical chemistry in polymer science: an overview and recent advances

• Zixiao Wang,
• Feichen Cui,
• Yang Sui and
• Jiajun Yan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1580–1603, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.116

• photocrosslinking of polymers is also feasible in the presence of photoinitiators or photoresponsive moieties [136][137][138]. Sophisticatedly designed photocrosslinking of polymers finds broad applications in modern 3D printing/additive manufacturing [139][140][141][142]. Radical chemistry has been demonstrated as

Exploring the role of halogen bonding in iodonium ylides: insights into unexpected reactivity and reaction control

• Carlee A. Montgomery and
• Graham K. Murphy

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1171–1190, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.86

• numerous similar attributes, halogen bonding has also proven to be a viable alternative in methodologies that rely on hydrogen bond initiation. For example, both halogen- and hydrogen bonding can be used in supramolecular chemistry as the binding mechanism in photoresponsive receptors [73][74][75][76][77

Light-responsive rotaxane-based materials: inducing motion in the solid state

• Adrian Saura-Sanmartin

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 873–880, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.64

• mechanical bond, such as control over the dynamics of the components upon application of external stimuli. This perspective aims to highlight the relevance of these materials, by pointing out recent examples of photoresponsive materials prepared from a rotaxanated architecture in which motion of the

• properties and functionalities [13][14][15][16][17]. Although great strides have been made in the development of photoresponsive rotaxanes [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29], progress on interlocked materials working via photoirradiation is less abundant in the literature. However

• dynamics of the components and/or macroscopic motion of the material are accomplished, dividing the article into three main sections: (i) photoresponsive rotaxane discrete crystals; (ii) photoresponsive rotaxane polymers; and (iii) photoresponsive metal-organic rotaxane frameworks (MORFs). Besides to

Azo-dimethylaminopyridine-functionalized Ni(II)-porphyrin as a photoswitchable nucleophilic catalyst

• Jannis Ludwig,
• Julian Helberg,
• Hendrik Zipse and
• Rainer Herges

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 2119–2126, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.179

• -epoxypropane to propylene carbonate using an aluminum porphyrin and a photoresponsive ligand. The catalytic activity of the metal porphyrin depended on the axial coordination of an azostilbene and coordination of the latter ligand was controlled by photoisomerization of the stilbene unit [9]. Hecht et al

Et₃N/DMSO-supported one-pot synthesis of highly fluorescent β-carboline-linked benzothiophenones via sulfur insertion and estimation of the photophysical properties

• Dharmender Singh,
• Vipin Kumar and
• Virender Singh

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 1740–1753, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.146

• a variety of biological activities such as anticancer [24], inhibition of tyrosine phosphatase 1B, antioxidant properties, etc. [25][26][27]. Due to their numerous applications, they have found diverse uses such as thioindigo-like dyes, photoresponsive devices, and photoswitchable biomolecules [28

Starazo triple switches – synthesis of unsymmetrical 1,3,5-tris(arylazo)benzenes

• Andreas H. Heindl and
• Hermann A. Wegner

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 22–31, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.4

• access, this highly interesting class of multistate photoswitches would be accessible for detailed spectroscopic investigations, leading to fundamental insights applicable to the design of intelligent photoresponsive materials. Results and Discussion Initially, two different synthetic strategies were

• of novel, multi-state photoresponsive systems for smart materials. Experimental 3,5-Dibromo-2′,4′,6′-trimethoxyazobenzene (15) [24]: 3,5-Dibromoaniline (9.99 g, 39.8 mmol, 1.00 equiv) was suspended in water (20 mL) and aq HBF4 (50%, 15 mL, 119 mmol, 3.0 equiv) was added. The suspension was cooled to

A chiral self-sorting photoresponsive coordination cage based on overcrowded alkenes

• Constantin Stuckhardt,
• Diederik Roke,
• Wojciech Danowski,
• Edwin Otten,
• Sander J. Wezenberg and
• Ben L. Feringa

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 2767–2773, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.268

• interesting strategy to form responsive coordination complexes, as they feature a large geometric change upon switching [47]. Herein, we report a photoresponsive coordination cage with ligands based on a first generation molecular motor (Figure 1). Cages with a Pd2L4 composition are formed from bidentate

• explanation could be that the mixture of stable Z-1 and stable E-1 does not form separate well-defined cage structures, but forms mixed complexes. Conclusion In summary, a new photoresponsive supramolecular coordination complex based on overcrowded alkenes is presented, allowing switching between three

• considered to translate these geometrical changes to changes in properties such as guest binding affinity and selectivity. Schematic representation of a photoresponsive cage with ligands based on overcrowded alkenes. Aromatic region of stacked 1H NMR spectra (in CD3CN) of stable Z-1 and cage complex Pd2

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

• translation [24][25]. Except a handful of current examples [22][24][26], most of these photoresponsive oligonucleotides are canonical ones where the classical azobenzene is the prominently used photoswitch; although spiropyrans [27], stilbenes [28], diarylethanes [29] and overcrowded alkenes [30] have also

• switching capacities and duplex formation were analyzed. Our group has recently demonstrated that photoresponsive peptides can affect the transcription of genes via inhibition of histone-modifying enzymes [37]. Repression of enzymes is achievable at nucleic acid level too. Therefore, in this project we

• efficiency (Figure S55, Supporting Information File 1). This would explain the low observed photoresponsivity. Conclusion We have successfully synthesized two novel types of visible-light photoresponsive PNAs by coupling on-resin the corresponding molecular transducer. In particular, we focused on the tetra

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

• selectivity [35][36][37][38][39][40]. Consequently, arylazopyrazoles have been employed as photoresponsive gelators [41] and adhesives [42] and for controlling antimicrobial response [43][44], cell adhesion to surfaces [45], as well as DNA [46] and microtubule [47] self-assembly using light. Here, we focused

Targeted photoswitchable imaging of intracellular glutathione by a photochromic glycosheet sensor

• Xianzhi Chai,
• Hai-Hao Han,
• Yi Zang,
• Jia Li,
• Xiao-Peng He,
• Junji Zhang and
• He Tian

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 2380–2389, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.230

• signals has been developed, aiming at reducing interferences and improving sensing precision in complex physiological environments [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. This photoresponsive design presents several advantages over conventional probes: 1) The light-activation mode endows the probe with light

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

• nanoparticle systems [46]. This interpretation is also supported by TEM images (Figure 4a, see below) indicating significant interparticle repulsion and no aggregation-induced absorption maxima broadening. For further experiments the [tCD+tTEG]AuNR stock solution was diluted with ddH2O. For the photoresponsive

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

• damage by UV light [19]. Well separated absorption bands, high switching efficiency and high quantum yields are further advantages regarding their application as switches in photoresponsive materials [19][24][26]. In contrast to spiropyrans which have been frequently used as photoswitches in materials

Olefin metathesis in multiblock copolymer synthesis

• Maria L. Gringolts,
• Yulia I. Denisova,
• Eugene Sh. Finkelshtein and
• Yaroslav V. Kudryavtsev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 218–235, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.21

• highly photoresponsive multiblock polybutadiene [61]. Initially, ROMP of 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD) in the presence of a difunctional CTA provided dibromo-telechelic polybutadiene (PBD), which was transformed into diazido-functionalized telechelic PBD (Scheme 3). The multiblock PBD then was assembled by

• multiple click reactions of the diazido-telechelic PBD with a dialkynyl-containing azobenzene chromophore. The newly formed triazole moieties can tune and improve the photoresponsive properties of PBD. α,ω-Functional telechelic polymers also can be synthesized by acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET

A self-assembled photoresponsive gel consisting of chiral nanofibers

• Lei Zou,
• Dan Han,
• Zhiyi Yuan,
• Dongdong Chang and
• Xiang Ma

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 1994–2001, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.174

• glutamic acid skeleton, containing azobenzene as a photoresponsive group and ureidopyrimidinone (UPy) as a connection site, was designed and synthesized. The monomer is capable of forming an organogel in nonpolar organic solvents and different types of nanostructures in other solvents. The state of the gel

• of compound 3 in benzene that was investigated previously. Conclusion We have synthesized a novel chiral compound containing azobenzene as the photoresponsive group and UPy as the connection site. The monomer was capable of forming chiral nanostructures and a low-molecular-weight organogel in

An amphiphilic pseudo[1]catenane: neutral guest-induced clouding point change

• Tomoki Ogoshi,
• Tomohiro Akutsu and
• Tada-aki Yamagishi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 1937–1943, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.167

• in the clouding point. The clouding point of 1 increased upon addition of a cationic guest as the hydrophilic ratio in the molecule increased by formation of the complex with the hydrophilic cationic guest [5]. We also demonstrated photoresponsive LCST behavior by using a photoresponsive host–guest

• complex system between amphiphilic pillar[6]arene 2 and a photoresponsive cationic azobenzene guest [6]. However, neutral guest molecules could not induce a clear LCST change because encapsulation of the neutral guest in the hydrophobic pillar[n]arene core did not significantly change the hydrophobic

Stimuli-responsive oligonucleotides in prodrug-based approaches for gene silencing

• Françoise Debart,
• Christelle Dupouy and
• Jean-Jacques Vasseur

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 436–469, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.32

• . Light-responsive ONs Compared to other stimuli used to generate ONs that act as gene regulator, light is the external physical regulatory element that is most used. Actually, photoirradiation is the major and simplest method to temporally and spatially regulate the activity of photoresponsive ONs that

• suitable reagent, which generally is a diazo derivative bearing a photoresponsive moiety, or b) incorporation of an appropriate photocaged phosphoramidite during the solid-supported ON synthesis [73][78]. The advantage of the first approach is that the functionalization results from a reaction with

• activation induces the release of photoresponsive moieties during photoirradiation, yielding a lower extent of GFP expression in HeLa cells [72]. Later, Mc Master showed that it is not necessary to heavily modify siRNA because a single photoresponsive unit (biotin linked to nitrophenylethyl, Figure 4) at 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

• DNA photoswitches for the application in bionanotechnology and synthetic biology. Keywords: diarylethene; nucleoside; electrocyclic rearrangement; photochromism; photoswitch; Introduction Most biomacromolecules are per se not responsive to light. Their conversion into photoresponsive molecules opens

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

• designed and synthesized. The molecular structures were confirmed by 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The rapid and reversible photoresponsive properties of the compounds were investigated by UV–vis spectroscopy. Their thermal phase behaviors were studied by DSC. The length of the spacer plays a crucial

• ; organogel; photoresponsive; Introduction In the past few decades, low molecular mass organic gelators (LMOGs) have attracted increasing attention not only for basic self-assembly behavior but also for their potential application in areas such as templates [1], light harvesting [2], fluorescent scensing [3

• semicarbazide–azobenzene-based gelators [24]. A new multistimuli photoresponsive organogel containing azobenzene groups was designed and studied by D. Zhu and his co-workers [25]. Q. Zhang synthesized a series of new symmetric dicholesterol-linked gelators [26]. Upon UV–vis irradiation of the gels, a reversible

Synthetic strategies for the fluorescent labeling of epichlorohydrin-branched cyclodextrin polymers

• Milo Malanga,
• Mihály Bálint,
• István Puskás,
• Kata Tuza,
• Tamás Sohajda,
• László Jicsinszky,
• Lajos Szente and
• Éva Fenyvesi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2014, 10, 3007–3018, doi:10.3762/bjoc.10.319

• their spectroscopic properties thus generating chemosensors, biological tools for visualization and sophisticated photoresponsive devices. Cyclodextrin polymers, due to the cooperative interactions, exhibit additional properties compared to their monomeric counterpart. These macromolecules can be

Synthesis, photophysical and electrochemical characterization of terpyridine-functionalized dendritic oligothiophenes and their Ru(II) complexes

• Amaresh Mishra,
• Elena Mena-Osteritz and
• Peter Bäuerle

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2013, 9, 866–876, doi:10.3762/bjoc.9.100

• the tpy-ethynyl type have proven to be very useful and provide a library of photoresponsive complexes derived from the basic Ru(II)-tpy type module [23][24][25][26][27]. Recently, tpy-complexes that incorporate π-conjugated thiophene or thienylene-ethynylene units became available, and the study of

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

• [17], TBD is a difficult target for the incorporation of photoresponsive switches. Recent work indicates that the activation mechanism for acyclic guanidines, such as guanidine 1 (Scheme 1), is strongly dependent on the formation of hydrogen bridges to monomer and initiator [18]. Note that with