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Spatially Close Azo Dyes with Sub‐Nanosecond Switching Speeds and Exceptional Temporal Resolution
Author(s) -
GarciaAmorós Jaume,
Cuadrado Alba,
Reig Marta,
De Waele Vincent,
Poizat Olivier,
Velasco Dolores
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201502858
Subject(s) - nanosecond , chromophore , isomerization , relaxation (psychology) , azobenzene , thermal , photochemistry , temporal resolution , materials science , chemistry , chemical physics , molecule , optics , physics , organic chemistry , catalysis , laser , thermodynamics , psychology , social psychology
Abstract Photoswitchable bis‐azo dyes with an outstanding temporal resolution of 10 15 times between the thermal relaxation rates of their two constituting photochromes are reported. Remarkably, the close spatial proximity of both azo photochromes in these molecular assemblies translates in an unprecedented 10 3 ‐fold acceleration of the thermal isomerization rate of their faster azo unit compared to the one displayed by the isolated counterpart. Indeed, the relaxation time of the fast‐isomerizing platform of the herein reported bis‐azobenzenes is as low as 200 ps under ambient conditions. In the wake of these results, the bis‐azo dyes described herein are invaluable chromophores for the design of multifunctional light‐addressable materials in which simultaneous switching in two very different timescales might be essential.