Synthesis and characterization of a new photoinduced switchable β-cyclodextrin dimer.

This paper reports an efficient preparation of bridged bis-β-CD AZO-CDim 1 bearing azobenzene as a linker and exhibiting high solubility in water. The photoisomerization properties were studied by UV-vis and HPLC and supported by ab initio calculations. The cis/trans ratio of AZO-CDim 1 is 7:93 without irradiation and 37:63 after 120 min of irradiation at 365 nm; the reaction is reversible after irradiation at 254 nm.

Micellar catalysis using a photochromic surfactant: application to the Pd-catalyzed Tsuji-Trost reaction in water.

The first example of a Pd-catalyzed Tsuji-Trost reaction, applied in a photochromic micellar media under conventional heating and microwave irradiation, is reported. The surfactant activity and recycling ability were investigated and compared with those of a few commercially available surfactants. The synthetic photochromic surfactant proved to be efficient, recyclable, and versatile for Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions.

Synthesis and evaluation of a photochromic surfactant for organic reactions in aqueous media.

A novel photochromic azobenzene-based surfactant was described for organic chemistry in water. The molecule 4-butylazobenzyl-4'-triazologlucuronic acid sodium salt thus synthesized can be isomerized from its trans to its cis form reversibly in solution by simple light irradiation. That property allowed the recyclability of a model acetylation reaction performed in the surfactant media, compared to the well-known, commercially available sodium dodecyl sulfate surfactant media.