Issue 3, 2019

Influence of metal coordination and light irradiation on hierarchical self-assembly processes

Abstract

Smart light-responsive supramolecular materials have been extensively investigated in the past decade, but so far the impact of metal coordination on hierarchical supramolecular structures of light-responsive building blocks has remained nearly unexplored. Herein, we unravel the hierarchical self-assembly of a small π-conjugated azo-containing pyridyl ligand that is able to respond to UV-light and metal complexation. The ligand self-assembles in an antiparallel fashion into long twisted fibers, which are then disassembled upon photoisomerization of the azobenzene groups, resulting in shorter rigid rods with a different packing motif. Complexation of Pd(II) ions enhances the cooperativity of the aggregation and induces a molecular rearrangement into slipped stacks with subsequent formation of long thin fibers. These are then transformed into thinner, shorter rods upon light irradiation. The observed different light-responsiveness, besides clearing up the influence of metal coordination and light irradiation in self-assembly processes, paves the way towards the design of novel supramolecular photochromic systems.

Graphical abstract: Influence of metal coordination and light irradiation on hierarchical self-assembly processes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
30 Aug 2018
Accepted
24 Okt 2018
First published
24 Okt 2018
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2019,10, 752-760

Influence of metal coordination and light irradiation on hierarchical self-assembly processes

K. K. Kartha, N. K. Allampally, A. T. Politi, D. D. Prabhu, H. Ouchi, R. Q. Albuquerque, S. Yagai and G. Fernández, Chem. Sci., 2019, 10, 752 DOI: 10.1039/C8SC03875A

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