Editors: | F. Kongoli |
Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
Publication Year: | 2022 |
Pages: | 64 pages |
ISBN: | 978-1-989820-46-9(CD) |
ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
The paper presents the supramolecular control of photoisomerization reactions of cinnamic acid (CA), belonging to the class of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, utilizing the rigid cavity of cucurbit[7]uril (CB7). Irradiation by UV light (300 and 254 nm) of an aqueous solution of the complex induces the E-to-Z-conformational change, as evidenced by UV-visible absorption spectroscopic and 1H-NMR techniques. CA and CB7 form a stable 1:1 host–guest complex with moderate binding constant (K = 3.3 x 103 M-1). The photo-switchable “on-off” host–guest system shows a higher reversibility and switching efficiency, when compared to the unbound molecules, which makes it potentially useful in designing photoresponsive gating systems. The results presented herein highlight the value of a supramolecular approach in achieving selectivity in photoreactions and opening reaction pathways that are latent in solution chemistry.