Work

Switching Reactivity With Light: C─P Bonding Controls Singlet Oxygen Generation and Reactivity in Dimethyldihydropyrene‐Cyclophanediene (DHP‐CPD) Photoswitches

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The dimethyldihydropyrene photochromic system is a 14π-electronic framework that switches to a less-aromatic, nonplanar system under visible light. In this work, we unravel a neutral phosphorus heteroatom-appended dimethyldihydropyrene (DHP) photoswitchable system that acts as a self-sensitizer, enabling precise, wavelength-selective control over singlet oxygen capture with dual reactivity. The attachment of the phosphorus directly to the DHP scaffold allowed red light (640 nm) to selectively generate a phosphinate intermediate (DHP-2), while green light (525 nm) triggers further transformation into an endoperoxide. The dual reactivity can thus be selected easily by choosing the appropriate wavelength of light. The formation of the photoproducts also displayed dependence on the phosphine (DHP-1) concentration. Thus, this work establishes a unified approach to engineering singlet oxygen generation, wavelength-selective fixation, and release of singlet oxygen within a single molecular scaffold.

Source: Small

DOI: 10.1002/smll.76102

Authors: Manik Lal Maity, Sayan Chandra, Samyadeb Mahato, Jakir Ahmed, Subhajit Bandyopadhyay

Institutions: Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Simon Fraser University

Language: English

Topic: Photochromic and Fluorescence Chemistry

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Arthritis National Research Foundation, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India, Science and Engineering Research Board

Award: G1010115184