Using Color to Control Conformation in a Chemical System Containing Multiple Tricyanofuran Photoacids

Matthew M. Wootten, Sofja Tshepelevitsh, Ivo Leito, Jonathan Clayden*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

Abstract

Color vision relies on selective, reversible isomerization by visible light of a mixture of retinyl chromophores in photoreceptor cells. Synthetic molecular mimics of this wavelength‐dependent induction of function are rare, despite the attractiveness of controlling chemical processes solely by the wavelength of incident light. Here, we report a color‐responsive chemical system that is composed of a cationic receptor complex, two competing chiral anionic ligands, and two metastable photoacids with contrasting absorption properties. Tricyanofuran photoacids are synthesized with absorption maxima of varying wavelengths across the whole visible spectrum. Protons released by the photoacids upon selective irradiation reversibly mask the more basic receptor‐bound ligand, leading to ligand exchange that can be observed as a shift in the circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of the reporter complex. A ≈90 nm separation between the absorbance maxima of the photoacids allowed each to be selectively photoisomerized in the presence of the other. The concentration of released protons, and hence the magnitude of the shift in CD response, are controlled by changing the wavelength of the incident visible light. Different output behaviors (OR/AND logic gates and wavelength detection) are programmed into the system by varying the relative proportions of the photoacids.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere202502437
Number of pages10
JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition
Volume64
Issue number21
Early online date10 Mar 2025
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 May 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.

Research Groups and Themes

  • Bristol BioDesign Institute

Keywords

  • Wavelength selectivity
  • Out‐of‐equilibrium systems
  • Photoacids
  • Reversible molecular logic
  • Circular dichroism

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