Macrocyclic Schiff base complexes bearing photoactive substituent groups. 1. The azo linkage [14]

The ability of macrocyclic Schiff base complexes to assist in photoenergy transfer and storage phenomena was explored. It was reported that the nickel complex of a macrocyclic ligand synthesized from the parent Schiff base undergoes a photoisomerization about the azo linkage to give the less stable cis azo isomer. The photogenerated cis isomer is reportedly capable of bonding to a second metallomacrocyclic complex and is thus catalytically reisomerized to the trans form. (DDA)