An Anthracene-Based Photochromic System That Responds to Two Chemical Inputs

Abstract

Reversible intramolecular cyclization reactions to form crown ethers are possible with photoactive anthracene derivatives containing two binding sites (see scheme). Different chemical inputs in the form of HgCl2 and Na+ ions result in changes in the efficiency and rate of the forward and reverse processes.

Cooperative anion binding and electrochemical sensing by modular podands

“…It has been shown by extensive work by Beer et al (9,20,22), amongst others, that amide spacer units give good coupling between the binding and readout sites. In luminescent sensors an alternative method of signal transduction from binding to readout involves a binding-induced conformational change that can bring two lumophores into close proximity to one another, triggering excimer or exciplex emission (16,(29)(30)(31). We now report generation of electrochemical systems that adopt such a conformational change-based approach to anion sensing.…”

Templating Photoreactions in Solution

“…Either ion will swing the anthracenes to a proximal position, accelerating the photodimerization reaction. 89 Naphthalene and its derivatives are known to undergo [4 + 4] photodimerization to yield trans (major) and cis (minor) photoadducts, which, in a subsequent step, can give rise to cubane -like structures. 90,91 Little work has appeared on using supramolecular templates to control the mutual orientation of substituted naphthalenes, although micellar environments have been shown to exert infl uence over the fi nal product distribution.…”

Luminescence and crystal structure of 2,2-difluoro-4-(9-anthracyl)-6-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaborine

“…The reaction of anthracene photodimerization is thermally and photochemically reversible, which in fact allows using the compounds of this class in the development of media having an 'optical memory' and photochemical switches [11][12][13]. Up to present, a substantial data array has been accumulated on the above photochemical behavior of anthroyl-containing alkanes, olefins, azomethines, and azines [14].…”