Document type
Journal articles
Document subtype
Full paper
Title
Contrasting Photo-Switching Rates in Azobenzene Derivatives: How the Nature of the Substituent Plays a Role
Participants in the publication
Domenico Pirone (Author)
Nuno A. G. Bandeira (Author)
FACULDADE DE CIÊNCIAS DA UNIVERSIDADE DE LISBOA
Dep. Química e Bioquímica
BioISI
Bartosz Tylkowski (Author)
Emily Boswell (Author)
Regine Labeque (Author)
Ricard Garcia Valls (Author)
Marta Giamberini (Author)
Summary
A molecular design approach was used to create asymmetrical visible light-triggered azo-derivatives that can be good candidates for polymer functionalization. The specific electron–donor substituted molecules were characterized and studied by means of NMR analyses and UV-visible spectroscopy, comparing the results with Time Dependent Density Functional (TD-DFT) calculations. A slow rate of isomerization (ki = 1.5 × 10−4 s−1) was discovered for 4-((2-hydroxy-5methylphenyl) diazenyl)-3-methoxybenzoic acid (AZO1). By methylating this moiety, it was possible to unlock the isomerization mechanism for the second molecule, methyl 3-methoxy-4-((2-methoxy-5-methylphenyl) diazenyl)benzoate (AZO2), reaching promising isomerization rates with visible light irradiation in different solvents. It was discovered that this rate was heightened by one order of magnitude (ki = 3.1 × 10−3 s−1) for AZO2. A computational analysis using density functional (DFT/PBE0) and wavefunction (QD-NEVPT2) methodologies provided insight into the photodynamics of these systems. Both molecules require excitation to the second (S2) excited state situated in the visible region to initiate the isomerization. Two classic mechanisms were considered, namely rotation and inversion, with the former being energetically more favorable. These azo-derivatives show potential that paves the way for future applications as building blocks of functional polymers. Likewise, they could be really effective for the modification of existing commercial polymers, thus transferring their stimuli responsive properties to polymeric bulky structures, converting them into smart materials.
Date of Publication
2020-04-30
Where published
Polymers
Publication Identifiers
ISSN - 2073-4360
Publisher
MDPI AG
Document Identifiers
DOI -
https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12051019
URL -
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/polym12051019
Rankings
SCIMAGO Q1 (2019) - 0.704 - Polymers and Plastics
SCIMAGO Q1 (2019) - 0.704 - Chemistry (miscellaneous) (Q2)
SCOPUS Q1 (2019) - 3.7 - Polymers and Plastics
SCOPUS Q2 (2019) - 3.7 - General Chemistry
Web Of Science Q1 (2020) - 4.329 - POLYMER SCIENCE - SCIE
SCIMAGO Q1 (2020) - 0.77 - Chemistry (miscellaneous)