A fast and stable photochromic switch based on the opening and closing of an oxazine ring.
[reaction: see text] We have designed a molecular switch based on the photoinduced opening and thermal closing of an oxazine ring. Ultraviolet excitation of this molecule induces the cleavage of a [C-O] bond to form a p-nitrophenolate chromophore in less than 10 ns with a quantum yield of ca. 0.1. The photogenerated isomer reverts thermally to the original oxazine within 50 ns. Our photochromic switch survives more than 3000 excitation cycles without decomposing, even in air-saturated solutions.
Tomasulo
Massimiliano
M
Center for Supramolecular Science, Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida 33146-0431, USA.
Sortino
Salvatore
S
Raymo
Françisco M
FM