J. Otsuki, K. Narutaki
Aug 6, 2004
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0
Influential Citations
29
Citations
Journal
Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan
Abstract
Several 2- and 3-(phenylazo)pyridine derivatives were prepared. Most of their trans isomers have a large absorption band (∼2 x 10 4 M - 1 cm - 1 (1 M = 1 mol dm - 3 )) around 320 nm and a small absorption band (∼400 M - 1 cm - 1 ) around 450 nm. All of these compounds photoisomerize upon irradiation of the shorter (trans-to-cis) and longer (cis-to-trans) wavelength absorption bands. trans Isomers of 3-(phenylazo)pyridines axially coordinate more strongly to Zn-porphyrins than cis isomers, while the opposite is the case for 2-(phenylazo)pyridines, due to steric reasons. These phenylazopyridines quench the fluorescence of Zn-porphyrin upon coordination. These properties were exploited for the light-triggered fluorescence modulation of Zn-porphyrins. Light was irradiated to a mixed solution of phenylazopyridine and Zn-porphyrin to induce photoisomerization of the phenylazopyridine, which underwent association with, or dissociation from, the Zn-porphyrin, resulting in a decrease or increase of Zn-porphyrin fluorescence. For example, the fluorescence intensity of Zn-tetraphenylporphyrin reversibly changed by up to 50%, when 4-methoxy-2-(phenylazo)pyridine was employed.