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Updated: Apr 22, 2026

From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding
Published on: March 24, 2018
Azobenzene-Functionalized Ionic Liquids: Light-Responsive Surfactants With Catalytic Potential
Markus Hegelmann1, Stefan Frei2, Julian Zuber1
1Technical University of Munich, Department of Chemistry, Catalysis Research Center and School of Natural Sciences, Garching bei München, Germany.
None:
We report on the synthesis of surface-active azobenzene-based surface-active ionic liquids (AzoSAILs) with tunable and photoswitchable physicochemical properties. The reversible isomerization between the trans- and the cis-form was studied in different solvents and concentration by spectroscopic methods. The potential of ionic AzoSAILs as light-controllable epoxidation catalysts was studied regarding their catalytic activity and switchable micelle formation in aqueous media. Zwitterionic AzoSAILs were investigated regarding their unprecedented light-controlled solubility, surface-activity in aqueous media and potential application in biphasic epoxidations. Additional valuable insight into the photoisomerizations is provided by computational studies.
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