The controlled generation of singlet oxygen is of great interest owing to its potential applications including industrial wastewater treatment, photochemistry, and photodynamic therapy. Two photochromic metal-organic frameworks, PC-PCN and SO-PCN, have been developed. A photochromic reaction has been successfully realized in PC-PCN while maintaining its single crystallinity. In particular, as a solid-state material which inherently integrates the photochromic switch and photosensitizer, SO-PCN has demonstrated reversible control of (1)O2 generation. Additionally, SO-PCN shows catalytic activity towards photooxidation of 1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene.
Keywords: metal-organic frameworks; oxidation; photochromism; sensitizers; singlet oxygen.
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