Premium
Single Crystals Popping Under UV Light: A Photosalient Effect Triggered by a [2+2] Cycloaddition Reaction
Author(s) -
Medishetty Raghavender,
Husain Ahmad,
Bai Zhaozhi,
Runčevski Tomče,
Dinnebier Robert E.,
Naumov Panče,
Vittal Jagadese J.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201402040
Subject(s) - cycloaddition , chemical physics , work (physics) , materials science , photochemistry , excitation , reaction mechanism , crystal (programming language) , chemistry , nanotechnology , physics , catalysis , thermodynamics , computer science , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , programming language
Abstract The extremely rare examples of dynamic single crystals where excitation by light or heat induces macroscopic motility present not only a visually appealing demonstration of the utility of molecular materials for conversion of energy to work, but they also provide a unique opportunity to explore the mechanistic link between collective molecular processes and their consequences at a macroscopic level. Here, we report the first example of a photosalient effect (photoinduced leaping) observed with crystals of three coordination complexes which is induced by a [2+2] photocycloaddition reaction. Unlike a plethora of other dimerization reactions, when exposed to even weak UV light, single crystals of these materials burst violently, whereby they are propelled to travel several millimeters. The results point to a multistep mechanism where the strain energy that has been accumulated during the dimerization triggers a rapid structure transformation which ultimately results in crystal disintegration.