SUPRAMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS FORMED BY METAL-ORGANIC FRAMEWORKS AND ORGANIC PHOTOCHROMES. REVIEW

Abstract In this review, Photoswitch@MOF materials, i.e. supramolecular compounds (hereinafter adducts) prepared by direct incorporation of organic photochromes into the cavities of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered. The available works devoted to photo-switchable MOFs do not report detailed studies of such compounds. The present review begins by briefly surveying the history of organic photochromic compounds, considering photochrome classes preserving their properties in the solid state, and describing the approaches to improve the performance of such compounds by supramolecular chemistry methods. Then we discuss all classes of organic photochromes for which Photoswitch@MOF adducts have been prepared. Particular attention is paid to the quantitative measurement of spectral and photokinetic parameters and photostability of adducts and of original MOFs. In terms of practical applications, most promising are the adducts of organic photochromes with surface MOF films referred to as Photoswitch@SURMOF compounds.