Robust visible light photoswitching with ortho-thiol substituted azobenzenes.
Introduction of S-ethyl groups in all four ortho positions of azobenzene prevents reduction of the azo group by intracellular glutathione, while enhancing the absorptivity to ~10,000 M(-1) cm(-1) in the blue and green regions of the visible spectrum. cis-to-trans isomerization occurs thermally on the minutes timescale. Further, this substitution pattern permits switching with red light, a color that is more penetrating through biological tissues than other parts of the visible spectrum.
Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George St. Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada. awoolley@chem.utoronto.ca.
Subhas
S
Samanta
Theresa M
TM
McCormick
Simone K
SK
Schmidt
Dwight S
DS
Seferos
G Andrew
GA
Woolley