title: Pressure effects on the radical-radical recombination reaction of photochromic bridged imidazole dimers.
abstract: The bridged imidazole dimers are some of the attractive fast photochromic compounds which have potential applications to the ophthalmic lenses, real-time hologram and molecular machines. The strategy for expanding their photochromic properties such as the colour variation and tuning the decolouration rates has been vigorously investigated, but the insight into the structural changes along the photochromic reactions has not been demonstrated in detail. Here, we demonstrated the pressure dependence of the radical-radical recombination reaction of the bridged imidazole dimers. The radical-radical interaction can be controlled by applying high pressure. Our results give fundamental information about the molecular dynamics of the bridged imidazole dimers, leading to the development of new functional photochromic machines and pressure-sensitive photochromic materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Engineering, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5258, Japan. jiro_abe@chem.aoyama.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mutoh
authors.forename: Jiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abe
mesh_terms: D003116:Color; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D019281:Dimerization; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D008422:Materials Testing; D008956:Models, Chemical; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D011312:Pressure
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D005609:Free Radicals; D007093:Imidazoles; C029899:imidazole