Photochemical and Electrochemical Triggered Bis(hydrazone) Switch

Abstract

Herein, we report the synthesis of a double hydrazone capable of undergoing photochemical E/Z isomerization through the imine double bonds. The bis(hydrazone) 1‐E,E can be considered as a “two‐arm” system in which the controlled movement of each arm is obtained by photo‐modulation, making possible the appearance of two isolable metastable isomeric states 1‐E,Z and 1‐Z,Z. Such states are characterized by very specific structural, optical, and electrochemical properties. The latter allows the reversible return from either 1‐E,Z or 1‐Z,Z to the 1‐E,E state. Our results are of great importance in the further development of molecular machines and photochemically controlled reactions by introducing for the first time double hydrazones as tunable photochemical switches.