Ketal-substituted bridged azobenzenes have been synthesized; these display a symmetrical boat conformation with the ketal in pseudo-equatorial positions. These bridged Z-azobenzenes (Z1 ) readily photoisomerize to the E-isomer as well as another Z-conformer (Z2 ) with ketal function on the pseudo-axial position upon irradiation at 406 nm. The two diastereomeric conformers display distinct physicochemical characteristics. Spectroscopic and NMR investigations supported that interconversion of two conformers occurs via the E-isomer, with good photochemical quantum yield (ΦZ1→E =0.45±0.03, ΦE→Z1 =0.33±0.05, ΦE→Z2 =0.37±0.06 and ΦZ2→E =0.36±0.04). The system shows high photostability and no thermal equilibrium between the two stable Z1 and Z2 conformers.
Keywords: azo compounds; conformation; isomerization; molecular switches; photochemistry.
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