Photo-Switchable Self-Assemblies Based on Thymine-Containing Bolaamphiphiles

Ahmed S. Al-Shereiqi, Ben J. Boyd, Kei Saito

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The photoswitching of photosensitive bolaamphiphiles based on thymine was investigated. Topochemical principles were applied to create light-responsive supra-amphiphiles by the utilisation of dynamic covalent bonds created by the photo-dimerisation of a DNA base, thymine. In order to induce the photo-dimerisation of thymine, two bolaamphiphilic molecules were designed and synthesised to meet the required [2π+2π] photo-cycloaddition conditions. The amphiphiles were synthesised with different spacers and their photo-reversibility and morphologies were studied by using UV/Vis, NMR and infrared spectroscopy, rheometry, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1135-1144
Number of pages10
JournalChemPlusChem
Volume82
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Jul 2017

Keywords

  • Dynamic covalent bonds
  • Photo-reversible reactions
  • Photochemistry
  • Self-assembly
  • Thymine

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