Synthesis of photochromic probes for functionalization of metallic clusters

E. RODRÍGUEZ-COBO, J. FAUERBACH, S. DIAZ, G. MENENDEZ, M.A. LÓPEZ-QUINTELA, M. TORNEIRO AND E. JARES-ERIJMAN.

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, ESPAÑA

Congreso; Congreso Internacional Fluoromag; 2009

FLUOROMAG

Metallic nanoparticles and clusters of just a few atoms have emerged as promisingnanomaterials finding great interest in the last years due to their unique fluorescent, optical andchemical properties. The characteristics of these nano- and subnano- objects can be modulatedby appropriate surface functionalization. Among the different types of functionally responsivemolecules, photochromic compounds offer the possibility of controlling structural and opticalproperties, by irradiation with light. Dithienylethene derivatives are a group of thermally stablephotochromic -molecules that undergo spectral changes as the result of an electrocyclicreordering which converts the original “open form”, into a visible absorbing “closed form” byirradiation with UV. Irradiation with visible light restores the original “open form”. Thecombination of a photochromic ligand with metallic nanoparticles and other ligands could serveto generate “smart” materials with could lead to the development of multimodal stimuliresponsivesystems. In this work we will present the synthesis towards compound 1 (figure 1),that combines a photochromic moiety with a dihidrolipoic acid linker for attachment to gold orsilver nanoparticles.