Photoactivable malachite green-based alkynylplatinum(ii) 2,6-bis(N-alkylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine complexes

Abstract

Photo-responsive malachite green moieties have been incorporated into an alkynylplatinum(II) bzimpy system. The photo-caged complexes in acetonitrile solutions exhibit self-assembly properties modulable by photo-removal of the cyano protecting group. Distinct aggregate morphologies, which are facilitated by the non-covalent metal–metal and π–π stacking interactions, have been observed before and after photo-irradiation.