Supramolecular coordination cages based on light-switchable diarylethene ligands

Abstract

Supramolecular coordination cages, assembled from square-planer cations (PdII or PtII) and banana-shaped ligands, have been widely studied in the past decades. Interests in this field gradually shifted from structure to function. This thesis explores the self-assembly of light-switchable homo- and hetero-leptic cages formed by Diarylethene (DAE) ligands which enable a fast photo-responsive interconversion between a flexible open form and rigid closed form of the chromophore backbone. In addition, the host-guest chemistry, their application in photo-controlled chirality transfer and singlet oxygen generation are investigated.