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Crystallization‐Induced Emission of Azobenzene Derivatives
Author(s) -
Yamauchi Mitsuaki,
Yokoyama Kosuke,
Aratani Naoki,
Yamada Hiroko,
Masuo Sadahiro
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201908121
Subject(s) - azobenzene , photoisomerization , crystallinity , crystallization , moiety , photochemistry , materials science , molecule , chemistry , azo compound , isomerization , crystallography , polymer , organic chemistry , catalysis
Most azobenzene derivatives are utilized as well‐defined photoresponsive materials, but their emission properties have not been of great interest as they are relatively poor. Here, we report crystallization‐induced emission (CIE) based on the suppression of the photoisomerization of azobenzene derivatives. Although these molecules show negligible emission in solution, their microcrystals exhibit intense emission from the azobenzene moieties as a result of CIE. Upon rapid precipitation, fine particles with low crystallinity were kinetically formed and underwent CIE over time with a concomitant increase in crystallinity. Furthermore, we demonstrated “photocutting” of an emissive single crystal using a strong laser by a combination of CIE behavior and photomelting based on the photoisomerization of the azobenzene moiety. Our results regarding the CIE behavior of azobenzene derivatives in addition to their photoisomerization can provide a new platform for developing photoresponsive luminescent materials.