title: Waste management of chemically activated switches: using a photoacid to eliminate accumulation of side products.
abstract: Molecular switches and machines that are powered by acid-base reactions are susceptible to low switching cycles because of the concomitant formation of waste products during their operation. Here, we demonstrate the fast, efficient, and reversible modulation of a hydrazone switch in methanol using a visible-light activated photoacid, with no generation of side products, high conversion rates (>95%), and no loss of activity over 100 cycles. TEG functionalization of the hydrazone switch allows for the process to be carried with high conversion (>90%) in water as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College , 6128 Burke Laboratory, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, United States.
authors.forename: Luke A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Tatum
authors.forename: Justin T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Foy
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aprahamian
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008027:Light; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D018505:Waste Management
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D006835:Hydrazones; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D000432:Methanol