@article{GouletHanssensUtechtMutrucetal.2017, author = {Goulet-Hanssens, Alexis and Utecht, Manuel and Mutruc, Dragos and Titov, Evgenii and Schwarz, Jutta and Grubert, Lutz and Bleger, David and Saalfrank, Peter and Hecht, Stefan}, title = {Electrocatalytic Z -> E Isomerization of Azobenzenes}, series = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {139}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, number = {1}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0002-7863}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.6b10822}, pages = {335 -- 341}, year = {2017}, abstract = {A variety of azobenzenes were synthesized to study the behavior of their E and Z isomers upon electrochemical reduction. Our results show that the radical anion of the Z isomer is able to rapidly isomerize to the corresponding E configured counterpart with a dramatically enhanced rate as compared to the neutral species. Due to a subsequent electron transfer from the formed E radical anion to the neutral Z starting material the overall transformation is catalytic in electrons; i.e., a substoichiometric amount of reduced species can isomerize the entire mixture. This pathway greatly increases the efficiency of (photo)switching while also allowing one to reach photostationary state compositions that are not restricted to the spectral separation of the individual azobenzene isomers and their quantum yields. In addition, activating this radical isomerization pathway with photoelectron transfer agents allows us to override the intrinsic properties of an azobenzene species by triggering the reverse isomerization direction (Z -> E) by the same wavelength of light, which normally triggers E -> Z isomerization. The behavior we report appears to be general, implying that the metastable isomer of a photoswitch can be isomerized to the more stable one catalytically upon reduction, permitting the optimization of azobenzene switching in new as well as indirect ways.}, language = {en} } @article{BlegerDokicPetersetal.2011, author = {Bleger, David and Dokic, Jadranka and Peters, Maike V. and Grubert, Lutz and Saalfrank, Peter and Hecht, Stefan}, title = {Electronic decoupling approach to quantitative photoswitching in linear multiazobenzene architectures}, series = {The journal of physical chemistry : B, Condensed matter, materials, surfaces, interfaces \& biophysical chemistry}, volume = {115}, journal = {The journal of physical chemistry : B, Condensed matter, materials, surfaces, interfaces \& biophysical chemistry}, number = {33}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1520-6106}, doi = {10.1021/jp2044114}, pages = {9930 -- 9940}, year = {2011}, abstract = {A strategy to optimize the photoswitching efficiency of rigid, linear multiazobenzene constructs is presented. It consists of introducing large dihedral angles between azobenzene moieties linked via aryl-aryl connections in their para positions. Four bisazobenzenes exhibiting different dihedral angles as well as three single azobenzene reference compounds have been synthesized, and their switching behavior has been studied as well as experimentally and theoretically analyzed. As the dihedral angle between the two azobenzene units increases and consequently the electronic conjugation decreases, the photochromic characteristics improve, finally leading to individual azobenzene switches operating independently in the case of the perpendicular ortho,ortho,ortho',ortho'-tetramethyl biphenyl linker. The electronic decoupling leads to efficient separation of the absorption spectra of the involved switching states and hence by choosing the appropriate irradiation wavelength, an almost quantitative E -> Z photoisomerization up to 97\% overall Z-content can be achieved. In addition, thermal Z -> E isomerization processes become independent of each other with increasing decoupling. The electronic decoupling could furthermore be proven by electrochemistry. The experimental data are supported by theory, and calculations additionally provide mechanistic insight into the preferred pathway for the thermal Z,Z -> Z,E -> E,E isomerization via inversion on the inner N-atoms. Our decoupling approach outlined herein provides the basis for constructing rigid rod architectures composed of multiple azobenzene photochromes, which display practically quantitative photoswitching properties, a necessary prerequisite to achieve highly efficient transduction of light energy directly into motion.}, language = {en} } @article{GouletHanssensRietzeTitovetal.2018, author = {Goulet-Hanssens, Alexis and Rietze, Clemens and Titov, Evgenii and Abdullahu, Leonora and Grubert, Lutz and Saalfrank, Peter and Hecht, Stefan}, title = {Hole Catalysis as a General Mechanism for Efficient and Wavelength-Independent Z -> E Azobenzene Isomerization}, series = {CHEM}, volume = {4}, journal = {CHEM}, number = {7}, publisher = {Cell Press}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {2451-9294}, doi = {10.1016/j.chempr.2018.06.002}, pages = {1740 -- 1755}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Whereas the reversible reduction of azobenzenes has been known for decades, their oxidation is destructive and as a result has been notoriously overlooked. Here, we show that a chain reaction leading to quantitative Z -> E isomerization can be initiated before reaching the destructive anodic peak potential. This hole-catalyzed pathway is accessible to all azobenzenes, without exception, and offers tremendous advantages over the recently reported reductive, radical-anionic pathway because it allows for convenient chemical initiation without the need for electrochemical setups and in the presence of air. In addition, catalytic amounts of metal-free sensitizers, such as methylene blue, can be used as excited-state electron acceptors, enabling a shift of the excitation wavelength to the far red of the azobenzene absorption (up to 660 nm) and providing quantum yields exceeding unity (up to 200\%). Our approach will boost the efficiency and sensitivity of optically dense liquid-crystalline and solid photo-switchable materials.}, language = {en} } @article{HerderUtechtManickeetal.2013, author = {Herder, Martin and Utecht, Manuel Martin and Manicke, Nicole and Grubert, Lutz and P{\"a}tzel, Michael and Saalfrank, Peter and Hecht, Stefan}, title = {Switching with orthogonal stimuli electrochemical ring-closure and photochemical ring-opening of bis(thiazolyl) maleimides}, series = {Chemical science}, volume = {4}, journal = {Chemical science}, number = {3}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {2041-6520}, doi = {10.1039/c2sc21681g}, pages = {1028 -- 1040}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The photochemistry as well as electrochemistry of novel donor-acceptor bis(morpholinothiazolyl)maleimides has been investigated. Proper substitution of these diarylethene-type molecular switches leads to the unique situation in which their ring-closure can only be accomplished electrochemically, while ring-opening can only be achieved photochemically. Hence, these switches operate with orthogonal stimuli, i.e. redox potential and light, respectively. The switch system could be optimized by introducing trifluoromethyl groups at the reactive carbon atoms in order to avoid by-product formation during oxidative ring closure. Both photochemical and electrochemical pathways were investigated for methylated, trifluoromethylated, and nonsymmetrical bis(morpholinothiazolyl) maleimides as well as the bis(morpholinothiazolyl) cyclopentene reference compound. With the aid of the nonsymmetrical "mixed" derivative, the mechanism of electrochemically driven ring closure could be elucidated and seems to proceed via a dicationic intermediate generated by two-fold oxidation. All experimental work has been complemented by density functional theory that provides detailed insights into the thermodynamics of the ring-open and closed forms, the nature of their excited states, and the reactivity of their neutral as well as ionized species in different electronic configurations. The particular diarylethene systems described herein could serve in multifunctional (logic) devices operated by different stimuli (inputs) and may pave the way to converting light into electrical energy via photoinduced "pumping" of redox-active meta-stable states.}, language = {en} }