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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Magnetic Tweezers for the Measurement of Twist and Torque
Published on: May 19, 2014
Twist and Return-Induced Ring Strain Triggers Quick Relaxation of a ( Z)-Stabilized Cyclobisazobenzene
Chavdar Slavov1, Chong Yang2, Andreas H Heindl3
1Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry , Goethe University , Frankfurt 60323 , Germany.
Abstract:
Continuous irradiation of the thermodynamically stable ( Z, Z)-cyclobisazobenzene does not lead to accumulation of a ( Z, E) or ( E, E) isomer as one might expect. Our combined experimental and computational investigation reveals that Z → E photoisomerization still takes place on an ultrafast time scale but induces large ring strain in the macrocycle, which leads to a very fast thermal back-isomerization, preventing photostationary accumulation of ( E)-isomers.
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