Styrylquinolines As Models of Controlled Molecular Switches and Logic Gates

摘要

Styrylquinolines are aza-substituted diarylethylenes (aza-DAEs) for which the protonation reaction is another channel of action in addition to the photoisomerization and photocyclization reactions. Thus, aza-DAEs are convenient compounds for investigation of the principles of fabrication and action of molecular devices, controllable switches, logic gates, and so on [1–4]. Switching between the aza-DAEcisand trans -states can be performed via photoisomerization, and this reaction can be controlled via the protonation of the aza-function (quinoline nitrogen atom) as shown in Scheme 1. Thus, there are four stable states in this system, which are switched to one another by two actions, of a light quantum and a proton.