Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) are cyanobacterial members of the phytochrome superfamily of photosensors. Like phytochromes, CBCRs convert between two photostates by photoisomerization of a covalently bound linear tetrapyrrole (bilin) chromophore. Although phytochromes are red/far-red sensors, CBCRs exhibit diverse photocycles spanning the visible spectrum and the near-UV (330-680 nm). Two CBCR s...

Photoisomerization of encapsulated Z-enecarbamates within the hydrophobic chiral cavities of gamma-CD showed higher diastereoselectivities in the photoproducts than those obtained in solution. The selective encapsulation of the enecarbamates and the following isomerization process are both diastereoselectively controlled by gamma-CD.

Naphthalene-terminated stilbene dendrimers, the largest stilbene dendrimers to date, underwent photoisomerization via highly efficient energy transfer from the dendron group to the core stilbene. It was also demonstrated that the energy transfer efficiency in these dendrimers may be controlled by light, utilizing trans-cis isomerization as the key photoreaction.

A single photomechanical supramolecular nanowire actuator with an azobenzene-containing 1,3,5-tricarboxamide derivative is developed by employing a direct writing method. Single nanowires display photoinduced reversible bending and the bending behavior follows first-order kinetics associated with azobenzene photoisomerization. A wireless photomechanical nanowire tweezers that remotely manipulat...

Combination of the pyrene and benzoylthiophene units constitutes an interesting approach to design bichromophoric photosensitizers with increased intersystem crossing quantum yield and enhanced selectivity. The potential of this strategy has been illustrated in the present work by using a model photoisomerization reaction.

A cyanostilbene-based amphiphile (CS) was synthesized, which could self-assemble into non-emissive bilayer vesicles and ultra-thin ribbons. Cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) could form an inclusion complex with CS with a significant hypochrome effect, giving a strong blue emission from non-emissive species. CS underwent photoisomerization induced by light irradiation, which allowed the membrane contracti...

In glassy isopentane at 77 K, 1-phenyl-4-(4-pyridyl)-cis-1,cis-3-butadiene (cc-PPyB) and 1-phenyl-4-(4-pyridyl)-cis-1,trans-3-butadiene (ct-PPyB) can undergo simultaneous two-bond photoisomerization. Under the same conditions, 1-phenyl-4-(4-pyridyl)-trans-1,cis-3-butadiene (tc-PPyB) gives tt-PPyB, the ultimate photoproduct in all cases.

The photochemical cis-trans isomerization of retinal in rhodopsin is investigated by structure sampling and excited state QM/MM trajectories with surface hopping. The calculations uncover the motions responsible for photoproduct formation and elucidate the reasons behind the efficient photoisomerization in the primary event of visual transduction.

The photoisomerization behaviour of a dicationic azobenzene derivative on the inorganic surface was examined. The isomerization reaction was controlled by the charged array of the inorganic surface due to the "pinning effect" because of the electrostatic interaction between anionic charged sites on the inorganic surface and cationic charged sites in dye molecules.

Insight into the mechanism of photoswitchable foldamer denaturation was gained by incorporating two azobenzene switching units (see figure; orange) into the helix backbone. Optimizing the location of the units leads to cooperative photoisomerization events, causing complete unfolding. The switching cooperativity coupled with the cooperative unfolding transition enables the design of highly phot...