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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
Published on: November 21, 2017
A fast and stable photochromic switch based on the opening and closing of an oxazine ring
Massimiliano Tomasulo1, Salvatore Sortino, Françisco M Raymo
1Center for Supramolecular Science, Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida 33146-0431, USA.
Abstract:
[reaction: see text] We have designed a molecular switch based on the photoinduced opening and thermal closing of an oxazine ring. Ultraviolet excitation of this molecule induces the cleavage of a [C-O] bond to form a p-nitrophenolate chromophore in less than 10 ns with a quantum yield of ca. 0.1. The photogenerated isomer reverts thermally to the original oxazine within 50 ns. Our photochromic switch survives more than 3000 excitation cycles without decomposing, even in air-saturated solutions.
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