Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026
![Cercosporin-Photocatalyzed [4+1]- and [4+2]-Annulations of Azoalkenes Under Mild Conditions](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F60786.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
Cercosporin-Photocatalyzed [4+1]- and [4+2]-Annulations of Azoalkenes Under Mild Conditions
Published on: July 17, 2020
Azobenzene: A Photoactive Building Block for Supramolecular Architectures
Massimo Baroncini1, Giacomo Bergamini1
1Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Università di Bologna, via Selmi 2, I-40126 Bologna, Italy.
Abstract:
The development of nanoscale systems capable to perform specific functions under external control is a challenging task and a fascinating objective in Chemistry. Photochromic compounds undergo radical changes in their physico-chemical properties upon light excitation, for this reason they are valuable building blocks for the construction of photo-controllable molecular devices, machines and materials. The E-Z photoisomerization of azobenzene has been known for almost 80 years and - owing to its high efficiency and excellent reversibility - has been widely employed to introduce an element of photo-control in a large variety of compounds, biomolecules, nanosystems and materials. Here we present some of our research results highlighting how this outstanding photochrome can be utilized to develop systems with light-induced functionalities.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Aryldiazonium Salts to Azo Dyes: Diazo Coupling
Cycloaddition Reactions: MO Requirements for Photochemical Activation
Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation
Aromatic Hydrocarbon Anions: Structural Overview
Due to the absence of continuous...
Aromatic Hydrocarbon Cations: Structural Overview
Removing one hydrogen from the intervening CH2 group...

