1
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Kuntze K, Isokuortti J, van der Wal JJ, Laaksonen T, Crespi S, Durandin NA, Priimagi A. Detour to success: photoswitching via indirect excitation. Chem Sci 2024; 15:11684-11698. [PMID: 39092110 PMCID: PMC11290455 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc02538e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Photoswitchable molecules that undergo nanoscopic changes upon photoisomerisation can be harnessed to control macroscopic properties such as colour, solubility, shape, and motion of the systems they are incorporated into. These molecules find applications in various fields of chemistry, physics, biology, and materials science. Until recently, research efforts have focused on the design of efficient photoswitches responsive to low-energy (red or near-infrared) irradiation, which however may compromise other molecular properties such as thermal stability and robustness. Indirect isomerisation methods enable photoisomerisation with low-energy photons without altering the photoswitch core, and also open up new avenues in controlling the thermal switching mechanism. In this perspective, we present the state of the art of five indirect excitation methods: two-photon excitation, triplet sensitisation, photon upconversion, photoinduced electron transfer, and indirect thermal methods. Each impacts our understanding of the fundamental physicochemical properties of photochemical switches, and offers unique application prospects in biomedical technologies and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Kuntze
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University Tampere Finland
| | - Jussi Isokuortti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin Austin TX USA
| | - Jacob J van der Wal
- Department of Chemistry, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden
| | - Timo Laaksonen
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University Tampere Finland
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - Stefano Crespi
- Department of Chemistry, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden
| | - Nikita A Durandin
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University Tampere Finland
| | - Arri Priimagi
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University Tampere Finland
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2
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Dang T, Zhang ZY, Li T. Visible-Light-Activated Heteroaryl Azoswitches: Toward a More Colorful Future. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:19609-19620. [PMID: 38991225 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c03135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Azobenzenes (Ph-N═N-Ph) are known as the most widely studied molecular photoswitches, and the recent rise of azoheteroarenes (Het-N═N-Ph or Het-N═N-Het) offers great opportunities to advance this already mature field. A common limitation is that azo-switches generally require harmful UV light for activation, which hinders their application across various fields. Despite great efforts in developing visible-light azobenzenes over the past few decades, the potential of visible-light heteroaryl azoswitches remains largely unexplored. This Perspective summarizes the state-of-the-art advancements in visible-light heteroaryl azoswitches, covering molecular design strategies, the structure-property relationship, and potential applications. We highlight the distinctive advantages of azoheteroarenes over azobenzenes in the research and development of visible-light switches. Furthermore, we discuss the opportunities and challenges in this emerging field and propose potential solutions to address crucial issues such as spectral red-shift and thermal half-life. Through this Perspective paper, we aim to provide inspiration for further exploration in this field, in anticipation of the growing prosperity and bright future of visible-light azoheteroarene photoswitches.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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, 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, 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, China
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3
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Hashim PK, Sahu S, Takahashi K, Thazhathethil S, Nakamura T, Tamaoki N. Geometry-Induced Oligomerization of Fluorine-Substituted Phenylazothiazole Photoswitches. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202400047. [PMID: 38278760 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202400047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Photoswitches are molecules that can absorb light of specific wavelengths and undergo a reversible transformation between their trans and cis isomeric forms. In phenylazo photoswitches, it is common for the less stable cis (Z) isomer to convert back to the more stable trans (E) isomer either through photochemical or thermal means. In this research, we designed new derivatives of phenylazothiazole (PAT) photoswitches, PAT-Fn, which feature fluorine substituents on their phenyl component. These derivatives can reversibly isomerize under visible light exposure with the enrichment of E and Z isomers at photostationary state (PSS). Surprisingly, we observed an unconventional phenomenon when these PAT-Fn (n≧2) photoswitches were in their cis isomeric state in the absence of light. Instead of the anticipated transformation from cis to trans isomer, these compounds converted to an oligomeric compound. Our detailed experimental investigation and theoretical calculations, indicated the crucial role of fluorine substituents and the distinctive geometric arrangement of the cis isomer in driving the unexpected oligomerization process originating from the cis isomeric state.
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Affiliation(s)
- P K Hashim
- Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Saugata Sahu
- Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan
| | - Kiyonori Takahashi
- Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan
- Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Shakkeeb Thazhathethil
- Research Center for Macromolecules and Biomaterials, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0047, Japan
| | - Takayoshi Nakamura
- Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan
- Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Tamaoki
- Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan
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4
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Golovina GV, Egorov AE, Khodot EN, Kostyukov AA, Timokhina EN, Astakhova TY, Nekipelova TD. The effect of substituent position and solvent on thermal Z‒E isomerization of dihydroquinolylazotetrazole dyes: kinetic, thermodynamic, and spectral approaches. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2024; 23:177-187. [PMID: 38071235 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-023-00511-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters have been investigated for the thermal Z‒E isomerization of dihydroquinolylazotetrazole dyes with alkyl substituents (Me, t-Bu, and Adm) at positions 1 (dyes 2) and 2 (dyes 3) of the tetrazole moiety in two solvents of different polarity, acetonitrile (MeCN) and toluene. The experimental results show crucial dependence of these parameters on a substituent position in the tetrazole moiety and on a solvent. For dyes 2, Eact and ΔH‡ are lower in MeCN than in toluene that results in a high increase in the lifetimes of the Z isomers: from milliseconds in MeCN to minutes in toluene. For dyes 3, the difference in Eact and ΔH‡ in the two solvents is opposite: Eact and ΔH‡ are by more than 20 kJ mol-1 higher in MeCN, nevertheless, the rate constants for 3 in toluene are comparable with those in MeCN at the ambient temperature and the difference in the behavior is determined by the value of negative entropy of activation. Quantum-chemical calculations of the thermal Z‒E isomerization show the possibility of the process to occur via crossing from the S0 to the thermally induced T1 state. The contribution of this path is highest for 3 in toluene. The analysis of the absorption spectra demonstrates that for the E isomers, the n‒π* and π‒π* transitions are within the long-wavelength absorption band and their positions relative each other are opposite in the solvents: the n‒π* transition is blue-shifted relative to the π‒π* transition in MeCN and is red-shifted in toluene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina V Golovina
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics RAS, Kosygin Str. 4, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - Anton E Egorov
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics RAS, Kosygin Str. 4, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - Evgenii N Khodot
- Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry RAS, Leninskii Pr. 47, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Alexey A Kostyukov
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics RAS, Kosygin Str. 4, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - Elena N Timokhina
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics RAS, Kosygin Str. 4, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - Tatiana Yu Astakhova
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics RAS, Kosygin Str. 4, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - Tatiana D Nekipelova
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics RAS, Kosygin Str. 4, Moscow, 119334, Russia.
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5
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Mukherjee A, Seyfried MD, Ravoo BJ. Azoheteroarene and Diazocine Molecular Photoswitches: Self-Assembly, Responsive Materials and Photopharmacology. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202304437. [PMID: 37212536 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202304437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Aromatic units tethered with an azo (-N=N-) functionality comprise a unique class of compounds, known as molecular photoswitches, exhibiting a reversible transformation between their E- and Z-isomers in response to photo-irradiation. Photoswitches have been explored extensively in the recent past to prepare dynamic self-assembled materials, optoelectronic devices, responsive biomaterials, and more. Most of such materials involve azobenzenes as the molecular photoswitch and to date, SciFinder lists more than 7000 articles and 1000 patents. Subsequently, a great deal of effort has been invested to improve the photo-isomerization efficiency and related mesoscopic properties of azobenzenes. Recently, azoheteroarenes and cyclic azobenzenes, such as arylazopyrazoles, arylazoisoxazoles, arylazopyridines, and diazocines, have emerged as second generation molecular photoswitches beyond conventional azobenzenes. These photoswitches offer distinct photoswitching behavior and responsive properties which make them highly promising candidates for multifaceted applications ranging from photoresponsive materials to photopharmacophores. In this minireview, we introduce the structural refinement and photoresponsive properties of azoheteroarenes and diazocines and summarize the state-of-the-art on utilizing these photoswitches as responsive building blocks in supramolecular assembly, material science and photopharmacology, highlighting their versatile photochemical behavior, enhanced functionality, and latest applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anurag Mukherjee
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut and Center for Soft Nanoscience (SoN), Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster Corrensstraße 36, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Maximilian D Seyfried
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut and Center for Soft Nanoscience (SoN), Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster Corrensstraße 36, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Bart Jan Ravoo
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut and Center for Soft Nanoscience (SoN), Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster Corrensstraße 36, 48149, Münster, Germany
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6
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Singer N, Schlögl K, Zobel JP, Mihovilovic MD, González L. Singlet and Triplet Pathways Determine the Thermal Z/ E Isomerization of an Arylazopyrazole-Based Photoswitch. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:8956-8961. [PMID: 37772734 PMCID: PMC10577781 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c01785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the thermal isomerization mechanism of azobenzene derivatives is essential to designing photoswitches with tunable half-lives. Herein, we employ quantum chemical calculations, nonadiabatic transition state theory, and photosensitized experiments to unravel the thermal Z/E isomerization of a heteroaromatic azoswitch, the phenylazo-1,3,5-trimethylpyrazole. In contrast to the parent azobenzene, we predict two pathways to be operative at room temperature. One is a conventional ground-state reaction occurring via inversion of the aryl group, and the other is a nonadiabatic process involving intersystem crossing to the lowest-lying triplet state and back to the ground state, accompanied by a torsional motion around the azo bond. Our results illustrate that the fastest reaction rate is not controlled by the mechanism involving the lowest activation energy, but the size of the spin-orbit couplings at the crossing between the singlet and the triplet potential energy surfaces is also determinant. It is therefore mandatory to consider all of the multiple reaction pathways in azoswitches in order to predict experimental half-lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadja
K. Singer
- Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Str. 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Vienna
Doctoral School in Chemistry (DoSChem), University of Vienna, Währinger Str. 42, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Schlögl
- Institute
of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - J. Patrick Zobel
- Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Str. 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Marko D. Mihovilovic
- Institute
of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Leticia González
- Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Str. 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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7
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Adrion DM, Lopez SA. Design rules for optimization of photophysical and kinetic properties of azoarene photoswitches. Org Biomol Chem 2023; 21:7351-7357. [PMID: 37646103 DOI: 10.1039/d3ob01298k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Azoarenes are an important class of molecular photoswitches that often undergo E → Z isomerization with ultraviolet light and have short Z-isomer lifetimes. Azobenzene has been a widely studied photoswitch for decades but can be poorly suited for photopharmacological applications due to its UV-light absorption and short-lived Z-isomer half-life (t1/2). Recently, diazo photoswitches with one or more thiophene rings in place of a phenyl ring have emerged as promising candidates, as they exhibit a stable photostationary state (98% E → Z conversion) and E-isomer absorption (λmax) in the visible light range (405 nm). In this work, we performed density functional theory calculations [PBE0-D3BJ/6-31+G(d,p)] on 26 hemi-azothiophenes, substituted with one phenyl ring and one thiophene ring on the diazo bond. We calculated the E-isomer absorption (λmax) and Z-isomer t1/2 for a set of 26 hemi-azothiophenes. We compared their properties to thiophene-based photoswitches that have been studied previously. We separated the 26 proposed photoswitches into four quadrants based on their λmax and t1/2 relative to past generations of hemi-azothiophene photoswitches. We note 8 hemi-azothiophenes with redshifted λmax and longer t1/2 than previous systems. Our top candidate has λmax and a t1/2 approaching 360 nm and 279 years, respectively. The results here present a pathway towards leveraging and optimizing two properties of photoswitches previously thought to be inversely related.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Adrion
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA.
| | - Steven A Lopez
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA.
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8
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Dolai A, Box SM, Bhunia S, Bera S, Das A, Samanta S. Photoisomerization of 2-Arylazoimidazoles under Visible Light: Identifying a Predictive Tool to Anticipate and Tune Likely Photoswitching Performance and Cis Half-Life. J Org Chem 2023. [PMID: 37368413 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.3c00211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Azopyrazoles are an emerging class of photoswitches, whereas analogous azoimidazole-based switches are unable to draw much attention because of their short cis half-lives, poor cis-trans photoreversion yields, and toxic ultraviolet (UV) light-assisted isomerization. A series of 24 various aryl-substituted N-methyl-2-arylazoimidazoles were synthesized, and their photoswitching performances and cis-trans isomerization kinetics were thoroughly investigated experimentally and theoretically. Para-π-donor-substituted azoimidazoles with highly twisted T-shaped cis conformations showed nearly complete bidirectional photoswitching, whereas di-o-substituted switches exhibited very long cis half-lives (days-years) with nearly ideal T-shaped conformations. This study demonstrates how the electron density in the aryl ring affects cis half-life and cis-trans photoreversion via twisting of the NNAr dihedral angle that can be used as a predictive metric for envisaging and tuning the likely switching performance and half-life of any given 2-arylazoimidazole. By applying this tool, two better-performing azoimidazole photoswitches were engineered. All switches permitted irradiation by violet (400-405 nm) and orange (>585 nm) light for forward and reverse isomerization, respectively, and displayed comparatively high quantum yields and impressive resistance to photobleaching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirban Dolai
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calcutta, 92, A. P. C. Road, Kolkata 700009, West Bengal, India
| | - Sk Majid Box
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calcutta, 92, A. P. C. Road, Kolkata 700009, West Bengal, India
| | - Supriya Bhunia
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calcutta, 92, A. P. C. Road, Kolkata 700009, West Bengal, India
| | - Satyajit Bera
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calcutta, 92, A. P. C. Road, Kolkata 700009, West Bengal, India
| | - Arpan Das
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calcutta, 92, A. P. C. Road, Kolkata 700009, West Bengal, India
| | - Subhas Samanta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calcutta, 92, A. P. C. Road, Kolkata 700009, West Bengal, India
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9
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Axelrod S, Shakhnovich E, Gómez-Bombarelli R. Thermal Half-Lives of Azobenzene Derivatives: Virtual Screening Based on Intersystem Crossing Using a Machine Learning Potential. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2023; 9:166-176. [PMID: 36844486 PMCID: PMC9951306 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.2c00897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Molecular photoswitches are the foundation of light-activated drugs. A key photoswitch is azobenzene, which exhibits trans-cis isomerism in response to light. The thermal half-life of the cis isomer is of crucial importance, since it controls the duration of the light-induced biological effect. Here we introduce a computational tool for predicting the thermal half-lives of azobenzene derivatives. Our automated approach uses a fast and accurate machine learning potential trained on quantum chemistry data. Building on well-established earlier evidence, we argue that thermal isomerization proceeds through rotation mediated by intersystem crossing, and incorporate this mechanism into our automated workflow. We use our approach to predict the thermal half-lives of 19,000 azobenzene derivatives. We explore trends and trade-offs between barriers and absorption wavelengths, and open-source our data and software to accelerate research in photopharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Axelrod
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard
University, Cambridge, Massachusetts02138, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts02139, United States
| | - Eugene Shakhnovich
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard
University, Cambridge, Massachusetts02138, United States
| | - Rafael Gómez-Bombarelli
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts02139, United States
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10
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Franz E, Jung J, Kunz A, Wegner HA, Brummel O, Mollenhauer D, Libuda J. How Adsorption Affects the Energy Release in an Azothiophene-Based Molecular Solar-Thermal System. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:1470-1477. [PMID: 36744855 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c03732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Molecular solar-thermal (MOST) systems combine solar energy conversion, storage, and release within one single molecule. To release the energy, different approaches are applicable, e.g., the electrochemical and the catalytic pathways. While the electrochemical pathway requires catalytically inert electrode materials, the catalytic pathway requires active and selective catalysts. In this work, we studied the catalytic activity and selectivity of graphite(0001), Pt(111), and Au(111) surfaces for the energy release from the MOST system 3-cyanophenylazothiophene along with its adsorption properties. In our study, we combine in situ photochemical IR spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT). Graphite(0001) is catalytically inactive, shows the weakest reactant-surface interaction, and therefore is ideally suitable for electrochemical triggering. On Pt(111), we observe strong reactant-surface interactions along with moderate catalytic activity and partial decomposition, which limit the applicability of this material. On Au(111), we observe high catalytic activity and high selectivity (>99%). We assign these catalytic properties to the moderate reactant surface interaction, which prevents decomposition but facilitates energy release via a singlet-triplet mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evanie Franz
- Interface Research and Catalysis, Erlangen Center for Interface Research and Catalysis, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Egerlandstraße 3, 91058Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jannis Jung
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, DE-35392Giessen, Germany
- Center for Materials Research (ZfM), Justus Liebig University Giessen, DE-35392Giessen, Germany
| | - Anne Kunz
- Center for Materials Research (ZfM), Justus Liebig University Giessen, DE-35392Giessen, Germany
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 17, 35392Giessen, Germany
| | - Hermann A Wegner
- Center for Materials Research (ZfM), Justus Liebig University Giessen, DE-35392Giessen, Germany
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 17, 35392Giessen, Germany
| | - Olaf Brummel
- Interface Research and Catalysis, Erlangen Center for Interface Research and Catalysis, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Egerlandstraße 3, 91058Erlangen, Germany
| | - Doreen Mollenhauer
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, DE-35392Giessen, Germany
- Center for Materials Research (ZfM), Justus Liebig University Giessen, DE-35392Giessen, Germany
| | - Jörg Libuda
- Interface Research and Catalysis, Erlangen Center for Interface Research and Catalysis, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Egerlandstraße 3, 91058Erlangen, Germany
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11
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Franz E, Krappmann D, Fromm L, Luchs T, Görling A, Hirsch A, Brummel O, Libuda J. Electrocatalytic Energy Release of Norbornadiene-Based Molecular Solar Thermal Systems: Tuning the Electrochemical Stability by Molecular Design. CHEMSUSCHEM 2022; 15:e202201483. [PMID: 36213958 PMCID: PMC10099746 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202201483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Molecular solar thermal (MOST) systems, such as the norbornadiene/quadricyclane (NBD/QC) couple, combine solar energy conversion, storage, and release in a simple one-photon one-molecule process. Triggering the energy release electrochemically enables high control of the process, high selectivity, and reversibility. In this work, the influence of the molecular design of the MOST couple on the electrochemically triggered back-conversion reaction was addressed for the first time. The MOST systems phenyl-ethyl ester-NBD/QC (NBD1/QC1) and p-methoxyphenyl-ethyl ester-NBD/QC (NBD2/QC2) were investigated by in-situ photoelectrochemical infrared spectroscopy, voltammetry, and density functional theory modelling. For QC1, partial decomposition (40 %) was observed upon back-conversion and along with a voltammetric peak at 0.6 Vfc , which was assigned primarily to decomposition. The back-conversion of QC2, however, occurred without detectable side products, and the corresponding peak at 0.45 Vfc was weaker by a factor of 10. It was concluded that the electrochemical stability of a NBD/QC couple is easy tunable by simple structural changes. Furthermore, the charge input and, therefore, the current for the electrochemically triggered energy release is very low, which ensures a high overall efficiency of the MOST system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evanie Franz
- Interface Research and CatalysisErlangen Center for Interface Research and CatalysisFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergEgerlandstraße 391058ErlangenGermany
| | - Daniel Krappmann
- Chair of Organic Chemistry IIFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergNikolaus-Fiebiger-Straße 1091058ErlangenGermany
| | - Lukas Fromm
- Lehrstuhl für Theoretische ChemieFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergEgerlandstraße 391058ErlangenGermany
| | - Tobias Luchs
- Chair of Organic Chemistry IIFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergNikolaus-Fiebiger-Straße 1091058ErlangenGermany
| | - Andreas Görling
- Lehrstuhl für Theoretische ChemieFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergEgerlandstraße 391058ErlangenGermany
| | - Andreas Hirsch
- Chair of Organic Chemistry IIFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergNikolaus-Fiebiger-Straße 1091058ErlangenGermany
| | - 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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12
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Reimann M, Teichmann E, Hecht S, Kaupp M. Solving the Azobenzene Entropy Puzzle: Direct Evidence for Multi-State Reactivity. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:10882-10888. [PMID: 36394331 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c02838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A solution to the azobenzene "entropy puzzle" [ J. Phys.: Condens. Matter, 2017, 29, 314002] is provided. Previous computational studies of the thermal Z → E (back-)isomerization of azobenzene could not describe the experimentally observed large negative activation entropies. Here it is shown that the experimental results are only compatible with a more complicated multistate rotation mechanism that involves a triplet excited state. Using nonadiabatic transition state theory, close to perfect agreement is achieved between all calculated and experimental Eyring parameters. We also provide new experiments that indicate the presence of a noticeable external heavy-atom effect, which is a direct result of spin-orbit coupling effects being important in the proposed mechanism. These results suggest a reexamination of the mechanisms of related thermal double bond isomerizations in other systems in cases when an excited state of triplet (or other) multiplicity becomes thermally accessible during a rotation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Reimann
- Theoretische Chemie/Quantenchemie, Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Sekr. C7, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ellen Teichmann
- Institut für Chemie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Straße 2, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Hecht
- Institut für Chemie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Straße 2, 12489, Berlin, Germany
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringer Weg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Martin Kaupp
- Theoretische Chemie/Quantenchemie, Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Sekr. C7, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany
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13
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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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14
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Adrion DM, Lopez SA. Cross-conjugation controls the stabilities and photophysical properties of heteroazoarene photoswitches. Org Biomol Chem 2022; 20:5989-5998. [PMID: 35014651 DOI: 10.1039/d1ob02026a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Azoarene photoswitches are versatile molecules that interconvert from their E-isomer to their Z-isomer with light. Azobenzene is a prototypical photoswitch but its derivatives can be poorly suited for in vivo applications such as photopharmacology due to undesired photochemical reactions promoted by ultraviolet light and the relatively short half-life (t1/2) of the Z-isomer (2 days). Experimental and computational studies suggest that these properties (λmax of the E isomer and t1/2 of the Z-isomer) are inversely related. We identified isomeric azobisthiophenes and azobisfurans from a high-throughput screening study of 1540 azoarenes as photoswitch candidates with improved λmax and t1/2 values relative to azobenzene. We used density functional theory to predict the activation free energies and vertical excitation energies of the E- and Z-isomers of 2,2- and 3,3-substituted azobisthiophenes and azobisfurans. The half-lives depend on whether the heterocycles are π-conjugated or cross-conjugated with the diazo π-bond. The 2,2-substituted azoarenes both have t1/2 values on the scale of 1 hour, while the 3,3-analogues have computed half-lives of 40 and 230 years (thiophene and furan, respectively). The 2,2-substituted heteroazoarenes have significantly higher λmax absorptions than their 3,3-substituted analogues: 76 nm for azofuran and 77 nm for azothiophene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Adrion
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA.
| | - Steven A Lopez
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA.
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15
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Sah C, Mahadevan A, Kumar P, Venkataramani S. The curious case of the photochemistry of 2-hydroxyphenylazo-3,5-dimethylisoxazole: Unravelling the process among tautomer-ization, photoisomerization, and conformational changes. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:7848-7855. [DOI: 10.1039/d1cp05344b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Photoswitching in azo compounds is well established. Typically, the planar trans molecule (native) can undergo isomerization to cis isomer and vice versa in solution by light. However, observing such photochemistry...
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16
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Gupta D, Gaur AK, Chauhan D, Thakur SK, Jeyapalan V, Singh S, Rajaraman G, Venkataramani S. Solid-state photochromic arylazopyrazole based transition metal complexes. Inorg Chem Front 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2qi00325b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A new class of photoactive and chelating ligands L1-3 have been designed and synthesized by incorporating arylazo-3,5-dimethylpyrazole units in the ligand frameworks. Significantly they are designed in such a way...
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17
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Hu H, Jiang B, Zhang B, Wang R, Zhang C, Sun C, Hu B. Novel pyrazolyazoindole derivatives as photoswitches: design, synthesis, and photoswitching behavior research combined with theoretical methods. NEW J CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2nj03526j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Novel pyrazolyazoindole photoswitches with high to near-complete photoconversion, adjustable thermal half-lives, photochromic properties, and potential application value are developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Hu
- School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210094, China
| | - Bitao Jiang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210094, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210094, China
| | - Rong Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210094, China
| | - Chong Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210094, China
| | - Chengguo Sun
- School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210094, China
| | - Bingcheng Hu
- School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210094, China
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18
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Kuntze K, Viljakka J, Titov E, Ahmed Z, Kalenius E, Saalfrank P, Priimagi A. Towards low-energy-light-driven bistable photoswitches: ortho-fluoroaminoazobenzenes. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2021; 21:159-173. [PMID: 34888753 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-021-00145-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Thermally stable photoswitches that are driven with low-energy light are rare, yet crucial for extending the applicability of photoresponsive molecules and materials towards, e.g., living systems. Combined ortho-fluorination and -amination couples high visible light absorptivity of o-aminoazobenzenes with the extraordinary bistability of o-fluoroazobenzenes. Herein, we report a library of easily accessible o-aminofluoroazobenzenes and establish structure-property relationships regarding spectral qualities, visible light isomerization efficiency and thermal stability of the cis-isomer with respect to the degree of o-substitution and choice of amino substituent. We rationalize the experimental results with quantum chemical calculations, revealing the nature of low-lying excited states and providing insight into thermal isomerization. The synthesized azobenzenes absorb at up to 600 nm and their thermal cis-lifetimes range from milliseconds to months. The most unique example can be driven from trans to cis with any wavelength from UV up to 595 nm, while still exhibiting a thermal cis-lifetime of 81 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Kuntze
- Smart Photonic Materials, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, P.O. Box 541, 33101, Tampere, Finland
| | - Jani Viljakka
- Smart Photonic Materials, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, P.O. Box 541, 33101, Tampere, Finland
| | - Evgenii Titov
- Theoretical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Zafar Ahmed
- Smart Photonic Materials, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, P.O. Box 541, 33101, Tampere, Finland
| | - Elina Kalenius
- Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Peter Saalfrank
- Theoretical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Arri Priimagi
- Smart Photonic Materials, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, P.O. Box 541, 33101, Tampere, Finland.
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19
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Volarić J, Szymanski W, Simeth NA, Feringa BL. Molecular photoswitches in aqueous environments. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:12377-12449. [PMID: 34590636 PMCID: PMC8591629 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs00547a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Molecular photoswitches enable dynamic control of processes with high spatiotemporal precision, using light as external stimulus, and hence are ideal tools for different research areas spanning from chemical biology to smart materials. Photoswitches are typically organic molecules that feature extended aromatic systems to make them responsive to (visible) light. However, this renders them inherently lipophilic, while water-solubility is of crucial importance to apply photoswitchable organic molecules in biological systems, like in the rapidly emerging field of photopharmacology. Several strategies for solubilizing organic molecules in water are known, but there are not yet clear rules for applying them to photoswitchable molecules. Importantly, rendering photoswitches water-soluble has a serious impact on both their photophysical and biological properties, which must be taken into consideration when designing new systems. Altogether, these aspects pose considerable challenges for successfully applying molecular photoswitches in aqueous systems, and in particular in biologically relevant media. In this review, we focus on fully water-soluble photoswitches, such as those used in biological environments, in both in vitro and in vivo studies. We discuss the design principles and prospects for water-soluble photoswitches to inspire and enable their future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Volarić
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, Faculty for Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Wiktor Szymanski
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, Faculty for Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Radiology, Medical Imaging Center, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Nadja A Simeth
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, Faculty for Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
- Institute for Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstr. 2, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ben L Feringa
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, Faculty for Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
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20
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Fang D, Zhang ZY, Shangguan Z, He Y, Yu C, Li T. (Hetero)arylazo-1,2,3-triazoles: "Clicked" Photoswitches for Versatile Functionalization and Electronic Decoupling. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:14502-14510. [PMID: 34476949 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c08704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The development of light-responsive chemical systems often relies on the rational design and suitable incorporation of molecular photoswitches such as azobenzenes. Linking a photoswitch core with another π-conjugated molecular entity may give rise to intramolecular electronic coupling, which can dramatically impair the photoswitch function. Decoupling strategies have been developed based on additionally inserting a linker that can disrupt the through-bond electronic communication. Here we show that 1,2,3-triazole-a commonly used decoupling spacer-can be directly merged into the azoswitch core to construct a class of "self-decoupling" azoswitches called (hetero)arylazo-1,2,3-triazoles. Such azotriazole photoswitches are easily accessed and modularly functionalized by click chemistry. Their photoswitch property can be optimized by rational design of the substituent groups or heteroaryl rings, allowing (near-)quantitative E⇆Z photoisomerization yields and tunable Z-isomer thermal half-lives from days to years. Combined experimental and theoretical results demonstrate that the electronic structure of the photoswitch core is not substantially affected by various substituents attached to the 1,2,3-triazole unit, benefiting from its cross-conjugated nature. The combination of clickable synthesis, tunable photoswitch property, and self-decoupling ability makes (hetero)arylazo-1,2,3-triazoles intriguing molecular tools in developing photoresponsive systems with desired performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Fang
- 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, 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, 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, China
| | - Yixin He
- 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, China
| | - Chunyang Yu
- 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, 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, China
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21
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Pfaff P, Anderl F, Fink M, Balkenhohl M, Carreira EM. Azoacetylenes for the Synthesis of Arylazotriazole Photoswitches. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:14495-14501. [PMID: 34478268 PMCID: PMC8447256 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c06014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
We report a modular approach toward novel arylazotriazole photoswitches and their photophysical characterization. Addition of lithiated TIPS-acetylene to aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborate salts gives a wide range of azoacetylenes, constituting an underexplored class of stable intermediates. In situ desilylation transiently leads to terminal arylazoacetylenes that undergo copper-catalyzed cycloadditions (CuAAC) with a diverse collection of organoazides. These include complex molecules derived from natural products or drugs, such as colchicine, taxol, tamiflu, and arachidonic acid. The arylazotriazoles display near-quantitative photoisomerization and long thermal Z-half-lives. Using the method, we introduce for the first time the design and synthesis of a diacetylene platform. It permits implementation of consecutive and diversity-oriented approaches linking two different conjugants to independently addressable acetylenes within a common photoswitchable azotriazole. This is showcased in the synthesis of several photoswitchable conjugates, with potential applications as photoPROTACs and biotin conjugates.
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22
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Adrion DM, Kaliakin DS, Neal P, Lopez SA. Benchmarking of Density Functionals for Z-Azoarene Half-Lives via Automated Transition State Search. J Phys Chem A 2021; 125:6474-6485. [PMID: 34260236 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.1c01695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Molecular photoswitches use light to interconvert from a thermodynamically stable isomer into a metastable isomer. Photoswitches have been used in photopharmacology, catalysis, and molecular solar thermal (MOST) materials because of their spatiotemporal activation. Visible-light-absorbing photoswitches are especially attractive because low-energy light minimizes undesired photochemical reactions and enables biological applications. Ideal photoswitches require well-separated absorption spectra for both isomers and long-lived metastable states. However, predicting thermal half-lives with density functional theory is difficult because it requires locating transition structures and chosing an accurate model chemistry. We now report EZ-TS; by automatically calculating activation energies for the thermal Z → E isomerization. We used 28 density functionals [local spin density approximation, generalized gradient approximation, meta-GGA, hybrid GGA, and hybrid meta-GGA] and five basis sets [6-31G(d), 6-31+G(d,p), 6-311+G(d,p), cc-pVDZ, and aug-cc-pVDZ]. The hybrid GGA functionals performed the best among all tested functionals. We demonstrate that the mean absolute errors of 14 model chemistries approach chemical accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Adrion
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Danil S Kaliakin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Patrick Neal
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Steven A Lopez
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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23
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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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24
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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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25
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Zeng S, Zhang H, Shen Z, Huang W. Photopharmacology of Proteolysis-Targeting Chimeras: A New Frontier for Drug Discovery. Front Chem 2021; 9:639176. [PMID: 33777902 PMCID: PMC7987681 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.639176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Photopharmacology is an emerging field that uses light to precisely control drug activity. This strategy promises to improve drug specificity for reducing off-target effects. Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are an advanced technology engineered to degrade pathogenic proteins through the ubiquitin-proteasome system for disease treatment. This approach has the potential to target the undruggable proteome via event-driven pharmacology. Recently, the combination strategy of photopharmacology and PROTACs has gained tremendous momentum for its use in the discovery and development of new therapies. This review systematically focuses on PROTAC-based photopharmacology. Herein, we provide an overview of the new and vibrant research on photoPROTACs, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this approach as a biological tool, and outline the challenges it faces in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenxin Zeng
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Materia Medica, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongjie Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Materia Medica, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhengrong Shen
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Materia Medica, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenhai Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Materia Medica, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
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