Photoresponsive Azobenzene-cored Dendrons with Terminal Vinyl Groups

Azobenzene-cored dendrons having the photoisomerizable azobenzene core and terminal vinyl groups have been prepared. Absorption bands of azobenzene-cored dendrons are similar except more intense 280 nm band in higher generation azobenzene dendron. All three azobenzene-cored dendrons show reversible photoisomerization similar to simple azobenzene, irrespective of the generation of dendron. On 350 nm irradiation, absorption band around 344 nm decreases and 436 nm band increases. Photoisomerization reactions are very fast for all three azobenzene-cored dendron and the reaction efficiency is dependent of its generation and solvent. In the dark, slow thermal reversion to original absorption spectrum is observed.