A Versatile Cyclic 2,2 '-Azobenzenophane with a Functional Handle and Its Polymers: Efficient Synthesis and Effect of Topological Structure on Chiroptical Properties

作者:Lu Jinjie; Xia Aiyou; Zhou Nianchen*; Zhang Wei; Zhang Zhengbiao; Pan Xiangqiang; Yang Yonggang; Wang Yong; Zhu Xiulin
来源:Chemistry - A European Journal, 2015, 21(6): 2324-2329.
DOI:10.1002/chem.201405940

摘要

Two novel cyclic azobenzenophanes (SC, RC) with functional handles have been synthesized efficiently by a Glaser coupling reaction. Through a Suzuki coupling reaction, alternating ring/linear polymers with rigid (conjugated)/flexible (unconjugated) bridges were obtained from the resultant cyclic azobenzenophanes. The optical activities of linear, cyclic, and macromolecular binaphethyl-azobenzene derivatives were investigated by UV/Vis and circular dichroism (CD) spectra and the time-dependent (TD)-DFT method. Experimental results and theoretical analyses indicated that the cyclic configurations exhibited better chiroptical features than the others, and the reverse conformation and difference of dextro-/levo-rotation of azobenzenophanes were detected by comparing linear and cyclic structures, which provides an opportunity for the optical-rotation-controlled smart materials systems in future.