Controlling the light-induced structural isomerism of lipophilic azo-bridged porphyrin dimer via steric hindrance modulated functional linkers

Herein, two azo-bridged porphyrin dimers were synthesized via Sonogashira and Suzuki coupling reactions. The relationship between molecular structures and electronic structures was investigated by spectroscopic and electrochemical characterizations. In addition, the light-induced structural isomerism of lipophilic azo-Bridged porphyrin dimer could be controlled via steric hindrance modulated functional linkers, and it can only be succeeded in the case of expanded azo-bridged porphyrin dimer.