Visibly controlling bond breaking

Abstract

Photoactivated Bonds Photodynamic bonds that are stable under dark conditions but break when photoexcited enable an array of materials applications where switching is desired. For cycloadditions and reversions of conjugated organic molecules or radical formation, the excitation energy to activate bonds usually requires ultraviolet light. Han et al. report that the coordination of a selenoether ligand with a ruthenium coordination complex can be reversed by breaking the ruthenium–selenium bond with visible light and can also be restored after dark storage. They applied this approach to photocontrol of amphiphiles between spherical micelles and bowl shapes, wetting of surfaces, and polymer gelling. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 10.1021/jacs.1c05648 (2021).