Resumen de Processos i materials fotofuncionals basats en interruptors moleculars
Molecular switches have been an important research field in the recent years due to its capacity to interconvert between multiple states through a stimulus (writing) and change their properties (reading). Of special interest are molecular switches that interact with light by either changing their optical properties or reacting as stimulus, due to its noninvasive high spatiotemporal control and sensitivity. As a result, several photofunctional materials and processes based on molecular switches were developed during this thesis which can be summarized in two topics.
On the one hand, the multistate character of a family of (fluoro)chromic molecular switches based on spirocyclic zwitterionic Meisenheimer compounds (SZMC) was broadened by identifying a novel cationic state with distinctive optical properties, which could be achieved electrochemically or via acid addition. Moreover, the thermo(fluoro)chromic behavior of SZMCs was investigated and successfully demonstrated that they can respond to certain ions and solvents. This multistimuli-responsive and multistate character was then exploited for the preparation of a variety of photofunctional materials based on SZMCs: wide-range pH detectors, electro(fluoro)chromic displays, and thermal, ionic and solvent sensors.
On the other hand, light controlled reactivity with dithienylethenes (DTE) was achieved for three chemical processes. First, the introduction of electrowithdrawing groups (EWG) allowed the modulation of the pKa in acetonitrile of a series of DTEs tethering phenol moieties. Second, a similar strategy allowed for the dual-color control of an amidation reaction employing DTE-based active esters which react up to 24 times faster in the UV-generated closed state (ie. activation with UV irradiation) than in the open state formed under visible illumination (ie depletion with visible light). Finally, two-wavelength control was also achieved for an oxo-Diels Alder reaction between a DTE-dienophile active in the closed state and a UV-generated diene based on orto-methylbenzaldehyde.
