Induction of E/Z isomerization in a pendant metal-bound azobenzene: a synthetic, spectroscopic and theoretical study

Re(CO)3 conjugates 1 and 2 that incorporate azobenzenes can be readily generated via one-pot reactions using Schiff base reaction forming conditions. Excitation of the MLCT bands in 1 and 2 results in isomerization of the azobenzene moiety, and this process has been investigated via time-resolved photophysics and TDDFT calculations.