A light-responsive molecular switch based on cucurbit[7]uril and 1,1'-bis(benzyl)-4-[2-(4-pyridyl)-vinyl]-pyridinium dibromide displaying white light emission

Org Biomol Chem. 2022 Feb 9;20(6):1253-1259. doi: 10.1039/d1ob02420e.

Abstract

By using 1H NMR, ESI-MS and UV spectra, a novel light-responsive molecular switch constructed using 1,1'-bis(benzyl)-4-[2-(4-pyridyl)-vinyl]-pyridinium (12+) and cucurbit[7]uril (Q[7]) is demonstrated. The E- to Z-isomerization of the double bond in 12+ results in the transition of the switching states from the 1 : 2 complex E-12+@Q[7]2 to the stable 1 : 1 complex Z-12+@Q[7]. In particular, both the 1 : 2 complex and the 1 : 1 complex can emit cold white fluorescence under UV light.