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

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-as...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemical science (Cambridge) 2019-01, Vol.10 (3), p.752-760
Main Authors: Kartha, Kalathil K, Allampally, Naveen Kumar, Politi, Antiope T, Prabhu, Deepak D, Ouchi, Hayato, Albuquerque, Rodrigo Q, Yagai, Shiki, Fernández, Gustavo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Complexation
Crystallography
Dismantling
Ligands
Light
Light irradiation
Palladium
Rods
Self-assembly
Structural hierarchy
Ultraviolet radiation
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Summary: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.
ISSN:2041-6520
2041-6539
DOI:10.1039/c8sc03875a