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Sun W, Shangguan Z, Zhang X, Dang T, Zhang ZY, Li T. Solar Efficiency of Azo-Photoswitches for Energy Conversion: A Comprehensive Assessment. CHEMSUSCHEM 2023; 16:e202300582. [PMID: 37278140 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202300582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Photoswitches can absorb solar photons and store them as chemical energy by photoisomerization, which is regarded as a promising strategy for photochemical solar energy storage. Although many efforts have been devoted to photoswitch discovery, the solar efficiency, a critical fundamental parameter assessing the solar energy conversion ability, has attracted little attention and remains to be studied comprehensively. Here we provide a systematic evaluation of the solar efficiency of typical azo-switches including azobenzenes and azopyrazoles, and gain a comprehensive understanding on its decisive factors. All the efficiencies are found below 1.0 %, far from the proposed limits for molecular solar thermal energy storage systems. Azopyrazoles exhibit remarkably higher solar efficiencies (0.59-0.94 %) than azobenzenes (0.11-0.43 %), benefiting from largely improved quantum yield and photoisomerization yield. Light filters can be used to improve the isomerization yield but inevitably narrow the usable range of solar spectrum, and these two contradictory effects ultimately reduce solar efficiencies. We envision this conflict could be resolved through developing azo-switches that afford high isomerization yields by absorbing wide-spectrum solar energy. We hope this work could promote more efforts to improve the solar efficiency of photoswitches, which is highly relevant to the prospect for future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjin Sun
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging, Key Laboratory of Thin Film and Microfabrication (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P.R. China
| | - Zhichun Shangguan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging, Key Laboratory of Thin Film and Microfabrication (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P.R. China
| | - Xu Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging, Key Laboratory of Thin Film and Microfabrication (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P.R. China
| | - Tongtong Dang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging, Key Laboratory of Thin Film and Microfabrication (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P.R. China
| | - Zhao-Yang Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging, Key Laboratory of Thin Film and Microfabrication (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P.R. China
| | - Tao Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging, Key Laboratory of Thin Film and Microfabrication (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P.R. China
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2
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Franz E, Kunz A, Oberhof N, Heindl AH, Bertram M, Fusek L, Taccardi N, Wasserscheid P, Dreuw A, Wegner HA, Brummel O, Libuda J. Electrochemically Triggered Energy Release from an Azothiophene-Based Molecular Solar Thermal System. CHEMSUSCHEM 2022; 15:e202200958. [PMID: 35762102 PMCID: PMC9796447 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202200958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Molecular solar thermal (MOST) systems combine solar energy conversion, storage, and release in simple one-photon one-molecule processes. Here, we address the electrochemically triggered energy release from an azothiophene-based MOST system by photoelectrochemical infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PEC-IRRAS) and density functional theory (DFT). Specifically, the electrochemically triggered back-reaction from the energy rich (Z)-3-cyanophenylazothiophene to its energy lean (E)-isomer using highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) as the working electrode was studied. Theory predicts that two reaction channels are accessible, an oxidative one (hole-catalyzed) and a reductive one (electron-catalyzed). Experimentally it was found that the photo-isomer decomposes during hole-catalyzed energy release. Electrochemically triggered back-conversion was possible, however, through the electron-catalyzed reaction channel. The reaction rate could be tuned by the electrode potential within two orders of magnitude. It was shown that the MOST system withstands 100 conversion cycles without detectable decomposition of the photoswitch. After 100 cycles, the photochemical conversion was still quantitative and the electrochemically triggered back-reaction reached 94 % of the original conversion level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evanie Franz
- Interface Research and CatalysisErlangen Center for Interface Research and CatalysisFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergEgerlandstraße 391058ErlangenGermany
| | - Anne Kunz
- Institute of Organic ChemistryJustus-Liebig-UniversitätHeinrich-Buff-Ring 1735392GiessenGermany
| | - Nils Oberhof
- Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific ComputingUniversität HeidelbergIm Neuenheimer Feld 205 A69120HeidelbergGermany
| | - Andreas H. Heindl
- Institute of Organic ChemistryJustus-Liebig-UniversitätHeinrich-Buff-Ring 1735392GiessenGermany
| | - Manon Bertram
- Interface Research and CatalysisErlangen Center for Interface Research and CatalysisFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergEgerlandstraße 391058ErlangenGermany
| | - Lukas Fusek
- Interface Research and CatalysisErlangen Center for Interface Research and CatalysisFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergEgerlandstraße 391058ErlangenGermany
| | - Nicola Taccardi
- Institute of Chemical Reaction EngineeringFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergEgerlandstraße 3D-91058ErlangenGermany
| | - Peter Wasserscheid
- Institute of Chemical Reaction EngineeringFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergEgerlandstraße 3D-91058ErlangenGermany
- Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbHHelmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable EnergyEgerlandstraße 3D-91058ErlangenGermany
| | - Andreas Dreuw
- Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific ComputingUniversität HeidelbergIm Neuenheimer Feld 205 A69120HeidelbergGermany
| | - Hermann A. Wegner
- Institute of Organic ChemistryJustus-Liebig-UniversitätHeinrich-Buff-Ring 1735392GiessenGermany
| | - Olaf Brummel
- Interface Research and CatalysisErlangen Center for Interface Research and CatalysisFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergEgerlandstraße 391058ErlangenGermany
| | - Jörg Libuda
- Interface Research and CatalysisErlangen Center for Interface Research and CatalysisFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergEgerlandstraße 391058ErlangenGermany
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3
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He Y, Shangguan Z, Zhang Z, Xie M, Yu C, Li T. Azobispyrazole Family as Photoswitches Combining (Near‐) Quantitative Bidirectional Isomerization and Widely Tunable Thermal Half‐Lives from Hours to Years**. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202103705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yixin He
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China
| | - Zhichun Shangguan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China
| | - Zhao‐Yang Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China
| | - Mingchen Xie
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China
| | - Chunyang Yu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China
| | - Tao Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China
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4
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He Y, Shangguan Z, Zhang ZY, Xie M, Yu C, Li T. Azobispyrazole Family as Photoswitches Combining (Near-) Quantitative Bidirectional Isomerization and Widely Tunable Thermal Half-Lives from Hours to Years*. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:16539-16546. [PMID: 33852166 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202103705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Azobenzenes are classical molecular photoswitches that have been widely used. In recent endeavors of molecular design, replacing one or both phenyl rings with heteroaromatic rings has emerged as a strategy to expand molecular diversity and access improved photoswitching properties. Many mono-heteroaryl azo molecules with unique structures and/or properties have been developed, but the potential of bis-heteroaryl architectures is far from fully exploited. We report a family of azobispyrazoles, which combine (near-)quantitative bidirectional photoconversion and widely tunable Z-isomer thermal half-lives from hours to years. The two five-membered rings remarkably weaken the intramolecular steric hindrance, providing new possibilities for engineering the geometric and electronic structure of azo photoswitches. Azobispyrazoles generally exhibit twisted Z-isomers that facilitate complete Z→E photoisomerization, and their thermal stability can be broadly adjusted regardless of the twisted shape, overcoming the conflict between photoconversion (favored by the twisted shape) and Z-isomer stability (favored by the orthogonal shape) encountered by mono-heteroaryl azo switches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixin He
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Zhichun Shangguan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Zhao-Yang Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Mingchen Xie
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Chunyang Yu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Tao Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
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5
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Hu Y, Yue L, Gu FL, Zhu C. Photoisomerization-mechanism-associated excited-state hydrogen transfer in 2'-hydroxychalcone revealed by on-the-fly trajectory surface-hopping molecular dynamics simulation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:4300-4310. [PMID: 33587072 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp06668k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
By performing global-switching on-the-fly trajectory surface-hopping molecular dynamics simulation at the OM2/MRCI (14,15) quantum level, we probed the S3(ππ*) photoisomerization mechanisms associated with excited-state intramolecular hydrogen transfer for 2'-hydroxychalcone (2HC) within the interwoven conical intersection networks from four singlet electronic states (S3, S2, S1, and S0). The simulated quantum yields of 0.03 for cis-to-trans and zero for trans-to-cis photoisomerization were due to almost all the conical intersections being localized either in the cis-2HC or in trans-2HC region, and there was little chance for sampling trajectories to reach the rotation conical intersection (S1/S0) in between cis-2HC and trans-2HC that is key for reactive isomerization. The potential energy well on the S1 state in the trans-2HC region prevents trajectories from trans-to-cis photoisomerization, while the fact there is no well on S1 state in cis-2HC region opens a few chances for trajectories to reach the rotation conical intersections. The present simulation found that excited-state intramolecular hydrogen transfers in 2HC have a negative impact for reactive isomerization, and that hydrogen transfers take place on the S1 state, while back-transfer on the S0 state prevents sampling trajectories reaching rotational conical intersections. It was realized that it could be possible to enhance the quantum yield of 2HC photoisomerization by suppressing the hydrogen transfer (such as by changing an electron-donating substitution or adjusting the substitution position to decrease the acidity of the phenol group). From a perspective view of the potential energy surfaces, the theoretical design of such 2HC derivatives could enhance (control) the quantum yield by shifting the conical intersections away from the cis- and trans-region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Hu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, Ministry of Education; School of Chemistry & Environment of South China Normal University, Guangzhou 51006, P. R. China.
| | - Ling Yue
- Key Laboratory for Non-Equilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Feng Long Gu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, Ministry of Education; School of Chemistry & Environment of South China Normal University, Guangzhou 51006, P. R. China.
| | - Chaoyuan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, Ministry of Education; School of Chemistry & Environment of South China Normal University, Guangzhou 51006, P. R. China. and Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Chiao-Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan. and Department of Applied Chemistry and Center for Emergent Functional Matter Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan
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6
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Heindl AH, Wegner HA. Rational Design of Azothiophenes-Substitution Effects on the Switching Properties. Chemistry 2020; 26:13730-13737. [PMID: 32330338 PMCID: PMC7702042 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202001148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
A series of substituted azothiophenes was prepared and investigated toward their isomerization behavior. Compared to azobenzene (AB), the presented compounds showed red-shifted absorption and almost quantitative photoisomerization to their (Z) states. Furthermore, it was found that electron-withdrawing substitution on the phenyl moiety increases, while electron-donating substitution decreases the thermal half-lives of the (Z)-isomers due to higher or lower stabilization by a lone pair-π interaction. Additionally, computational analysis of the isomerization revealed that a pure singlet state transition state is unlikely in azothiophenes. A pathway via intersystem crossing to a triplet energy surface of lower energy than the singlet surface provided a better fit with experimental data of the (Z)→(E) isomerization. The insights gained in this study provide the necessary guidelines to design effective thiophenylazo-photoswitches for applications in photopharmacology, material sciences, or solar energy harvesting applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas H. Heindl
- Institute of Organic ChemistryJustus Liebig UniversityHeinrich-Buff-Ring 1735392GiessenGermany
- Center for Material Research (LaMa)Justus Liebig UniversityHeinrich-Buff-Ring 1635392GiessenGermany
| | - Hermann A. Wegner
- Institute of Organic ChemistryJustus Liebig UniversityHeinrich-Buff-Ring 1735392GiessenGermany
- Center for Material Research (LaMa)Justus Liebig UniversityHeinrich-Buff-Ring 1635392GiessenGermany
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7
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Čechová L, Filo J, Dračínský M, Slavov C, Sun D, Janeba Z, Slanina T, Wachtveitl J, Procházková E, Cigáň M. Polysubstituted 5‐Phenylazopyrimidines: Extremely Fast Non‐ionic Photochromic Oscillators. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202007065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Čechová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo nám. 2 16610 Prague Czech Republic
| | - Juraj Filo
- Institute of Chemistry Comenius University Ilkovičova 6 84215 Bratislava Slovakia
| | - Martin Dračínský
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo nám. 2 16610 Prague Czech Republic
| | - Chavdar Slavov
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Goethe University Max-von-Laue Straße 7 60438 Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Dazhong Sun
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Goethe University Max-von-Laue Straße 7 60438 Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Zlatko Janeba
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo nám. 2 16610 Prague Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Slanina
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo nám. 2 16610 Prague Czech Republic
| | - Josef Wachtveitl
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Goethe University Max-von-Laue Straße 7 60438 Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Eliška Procházková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo nám. 2 16610 Prague Czech Republic
| | - Marek Cigáň
- Institute of Chemistry Comenius University Ilkovičova 6 84215 Bratislava Slovakia
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8
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Čechová L, Filo J, Dračínský M, Slavov C, Sun D, Janeba Z, Slanina T, Wachtveitl J, Procházková E, Cigáň M. Polysubstituted 5-Phenylazopyrimidines: Extremely Fast Non-ionic Photochromic Oscillators. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:15590-15594. [PMID: 32433814 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202007065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Photochromic systems with an ultrahigh rate of thermal relaxation are highly desirable for the development of new efficient photochromic oscillators. Based on DFT calculations, we designed a series of 5-phenylazopyrimidines with strong push-pull character in silico and observed very low energy barriers for the thermal (Z)-to-(E) isomerization. The structure of the (Z)-isomer of the slowest isomerizing derivative in the series was confirmed by NMR analysis with in situ irradiation at low temperature. The substituents can tune the lifetime of thermal back isomerization from hundreds of microseconds to several nanoseconds (8 orders of magnitude). The photoswitching parameters were extracted from transient absorption techniques and a dominant rotation mechanism of the (Z)-to-(E) thermal fading was proposed based on DFT calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Čechová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nám. 2, 16610, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Juraj Filo
- Institute of Chemistry, Comenius University, Ilkovičova 6, 84215, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Martin Dračínský
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nám. 2, 16610, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Chavdar Slavov
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue Straße 7, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Dazhong Sun
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue Straße 7, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Zlatko Janeba
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nám. 2, 16610, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Slanina
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nám. 2, 16610, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Wachtveitl
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue Straße 7, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Eliška Procházková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nám. 2, 16610, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Cigáň
- Institute of Chemistry, Comenius University, Ilkovičova 6, 84215, Bratislava, Slovakia
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