Synthesis and characterization of photo-responsive carbosilane dendrimers.

Preparation of photo-responsive carbosilane dendrimers bearing 4-phenylazo-benzonitrile units on their molecular surface has been accomplished, and their both photo and thermal behaviors have also been characterized. These functional dendrimers suggest that the apparent molecular sizes of the cis-isomers are smaller than those of the corresponding trans-isomers, since the molecular diameter of these dendrimers would be shorter on the basis of trans-->cis photo-isomerization of azobenzene.

1. Introduction

Dendrimers are unique macromolecules with a regular, three-dimensional, spherical structure. They have attracted much attention as functional materials because they can integrate functional groups under similar conditions on their molecular surface. In our ongoing synthetic studies of carbosilane dendrimers uniformly covered with functional molecules, we have previously reported the preparation and characterization of carbosilane dendrimers carrying mesogenic groups [1] and sugar moieties [2,3,4,5,6,7].

Azobenzene derivatives are well-known as photo-switchable functional moieties that undergo photo-induced (trans→cis) and thermal (cis→trans) isomerization processes [8,9]. Preparation of linear polymers bearing pendant azobenzene derivatives and a dendrimer carrying an azobenzene derivative in order to investigate the photo-responsive properties has been reported [10]. It is interesting that the molecular size of the dendrimer carrying azobenzene derivatives is controlled on the basis of photo- and heat- isomerization abilities of the azobenzene unit. Therefore, these specific molecules have potential applications in conversion of photo-energy into dynamic energy as well as in drug delivery system. In this paper, we describe the preparation and characterization of a series of new photo-responsive carbosilane dendrimers 1-5 uniformly functionalized with azobenzene moieties, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Photo-responsive compounds.

2. Results and Discussion

2.1. Synthesis of Carbosilane Dendrimer Derivatives

Scheme 1 summarizes the synthetic construction of carbosilane dendrimers having photo-responsive moieties at each terminal end. A series of carbosilane dendrimers 6-9 were prepared by the method described in the literature [11]. These dendrimers were then converted into the corresponding hydroxyl derivatives 10-13 by hydroboration reactions [12]. Then 10 was treated with 6-bromo-hexanoyl chloride in the presence of pyridine to give 14, in which the bromine atom was next replaced by an iodine atom, giving compound 18, by the Finkelstein reaction [13,14]. Reaction of 18 with 4-(4-hydroxy-phenylazo)benzonitrile (= PAB) was carried out in the presence of potassium carbonate to give 2 in good yield. Ethyl 6-[4(4-cyanophenylazo)phenoxy]-hexanoates 1, 3 and 4 were synthesized in a manner similar to that described above. In contrast, the hydrosilation of 7 with HSiMeCl2, subsequent allylation and introduction of an azobenzene derivative gave 5, which had a decreased number of functional groups, compared to that of 4.

Scheme 1

Synthetic construction of carbosilane dendrimers having photo-responsive moieties.

2.2. Characterization of Photo-Responsive Carbosilane Dendrimers

UV spectra for 4 in THF solution both before and after irradiation (360 nm) were measured at room temperature (Figure 2). An absorption maximum of the trans-isomer was observed at 362 nm [Figure 2(a)], and intensity of that of the cis-isomer decreased and the peak top of the wavelength blue-shifted to 323 nm after UV irradiation [Figure 2(b)]. However, complete transformation of the trans-isomer was not accomplished due to the heat irradiation from light source. The same experiments were performed for 1, 2, 3 and 5, and the results of the UV absorption experiments of 1, 2, 3 and 5 are summarized in Table 1.

Figure 2

Absorption spectra of trans-4 (a) and cis-4 (b) in THF.

Table 1

Results of UV absorption of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Compounds	Trans-isomer		cis-isomer
	λmax(nm)	εa)(M-1 cm-1)	λmax(nm)	ε a)(M-1 cm-1)
1	364	2.99×104	327	1.06×104
2	364	2.56×104	320	7.06×103
3	362	2.40×104	323	7.67×103
4	366	2.92×104	324	9.61×103
5	363	2.26×104	321	8.55×103

aThe concentrations and ε were estimated from the value on the basis of a 4-(phenylazo)benzonitrile molecule in THF solution.

2.3. Analyses of the Molecular Size of the Dendrimers by GPC

It is presumed that dendrimers are globular molecules, and it was expected that the diameter of the dendrimers described in this paper would be decreased by the irradiation (360 nm) because the total length of the cis-azobenzene molecule is shorter than that of the trans-one [10]. To observe these properties, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) measurement is usually used. We attempted direct measurements of the dendrimers. Since the sizes of the synthesized dendrimers were smaller than the detectable limit of observation, the measurements were unfortunately not successful. We then attempted to determine the three-dimensional molecular sizes of the dendrimers by gel permeation chromatography (GPC).

Trans-isomers of 3 and 4 in THF solution were injected into the GPC apparatus, and the corresponding retention times were measured. The retention times of trans 3 and 4 were 12.87 and 11.97 min, respectively (Table 2). The weight-average molecular weights of 3 and 4 calculated from the retention times corresponded to 6,300 and 13,600, respectively, although neither of them were in agreement with the theoretical molecular weights because of the use of linear polystyrene standards for the calibration curve.

Table 2

Results of GPC analysesa) of 3 and 4.

Compounds	Retention time (min)
	Trans	Cis
3	12.87	13.00
4	11.97	12.09

a) Analytical conditions; Flow rate: 1.0 mL/min; Oven temp.: 30 °C.

The cis-isomers prepared by irradiation (365 nm) were analyzed in a manner similar to that described above. The retention times of the cis isomers of 3 and 4 were 13.00 and 12.09 min, respectively, and the corresponding weight-average molecular weights were 5,800 and 12,300. However, it is difficult to conclude directly that these data show the difference in molecular sizes of the trans-isomer and the cis-isomer because there are complicated interactions arising from polarities between the gel and the azobenzene unit in the GPC column. It should be noted that the differences in retention times were reproducible.

2.4. Thermal Isomerization Processes of Dendrimers

The thermal isomerization behavior of 1~5 was then investigated using 1H-NMR experiments. The heat-isomerization process of the cis-isomers was followed by placing them in a fixed temperature NMR probe (30 °C, 35 °C, 40 °C, 45 °C and 50 °C), and the cis→trans isomerization rates were calculated from the 1H-NMR signals in the aromatic region (trans-isomers: 6.7-8.2 ppm, cis-isomers: 6.3-7.8 ppm). The activation energies and the frequency factors were then calculated with Arrhenius plots, and the results are summarized in Table 3.

Table 3

Results of kinetic experimentsa) for the isomerization.

Compounds	Activation energy	Frequency factor
	(KJ / mol)	ln(A / s-1)
1	119.3	37.66
2	120.5	37.95
3	120.1	37.74
4	132.3	42.75
5	119.7	38.04

aTHF-d8 solutions of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 adjusting the concentration of the azobenzene unit to 1.0×10-2 M.

The activation energies of 2 and 3 are almost equal to that of 1, while the activation energy of 4 is significantly higher than that of 2 and 3. It is thought that the cis→trans thermal-isomerization is slightly prevented in the higher generation dendrimer because the azobenzene units in 4 would be in more crowded conditions and are piled up one upon another. In order to provide support for this notion, the activation energy of 5, which has a smaller number of azobenzene units than 4, was further measured. The cis→trans activation energy of 5 obtained was 119.7 KJ/mol, which is similar to that of 1, 2 and 3.

2.5. Crowding of the Molecular Ends of Dendrimers

When the ends of the molecules are crowded, as suggested above, the motion of the azobenzene unit would be slowed down. Therefore, investigation of the T1 value of 1H on the azobenzene units was carried out (Figure 3). If T1 of 4 is smaller than that of other molecules, it would be evidence that the molecular end of 4 is crowded because a small T1 means low mobility of the unit. The highest T1 value of the 1H on the azobenzene unit was found for 2, and 2, 3 and 5 had almost equal T1 values. However, the T1 value of 4 was lower than the values of the other molecules. These results indicate that 4 has the lowest motional freedom among the dendrimers described above.

Figure 3

T1 values of the 1H on the azobenzene unit of 2, 3, 4 and 5 in THF-d8.

3. Experimental

3.1. General

THF was freshly distilled from sodium just before use. For UV irradiation, a 400 W High-Pressure Mercury Light with a glass filter (Toshiba UV-36C) was used as the light source. 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR were recorded on a Bruker ARX-400 spectrometer operating at 400 and 100 MHz, respectively. Abbreviations of G1 as first generation structure of dendrimers and G2 as 2nd ones were used in NMR assignments. The preparative GPC system was used by recycle-type GPC with a tandem gel-column (JAIGEL 3H+2.5H: 20φ × 600 mm), using a differential refractive index detector (RI-50). The analytical GPC was a Shimadzu LC-VP with a polystyrene standard (ShimPack GCP 0825+802; flow rate, 1.0 mL/min; oven temp., 30 °C). UV-spectrum measurement was performed with a JASCO V550 U/V-spectrometer. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectra (MALDI-TOF-MS) were obtained using a Perseptive Biosystems Voyager Elite spectrometer. Melting point measurement was performed with a Büchi B-540 Melting Point apparatus.

Ethyl 6-[4-(4-cyanophenylazo)phenoxy]hexanoate (1). A solution of ethyl 6-bromohexanoate (1.98 g, 8.87 mmol) in 2-butanone (EMK) (30 mL) was added to a mixture of 4-(4-hydroxyphenylazo)-benzonitrile (1.78 g, 7.96 mmol) and K2CO3 (1.23 g, 8.88 mol) in EMK (30 mL). The mixture was stirred at 90 °C for 24 h. After the precipitates had been filtered off, THF (50 mL) was added to the filtrate and the solution was washed with water (50 mL × 3). The extract was dried over anhydrous Na2SO4. The solvent was evaporated, and the resulting red crystals were recrystallized from EMK to give 2.48 g (85.4%) of pure 1: mp 133.0-133.6 °C; 1H-NMR (CDCl3) δ 1.2-1.3 (t, 3 H, CH3), 1.5-1.8 (m, 6 H, CH2), 2.3-2.4 (t, 2 H, C(O)CH2), 4.0-4.1 (t, 2 H, CH2-O), 4.1-4.2 (q, 2 H, CH3CH), 7.0-8.0 (m, 8 H, Ar); 13C-NMR (CDCl3) δ 14.2 (CH3), 24.6 (OCOCH2CH2), 25.6 (CH2CH2CH2-O), 28.7 (CH2CH2CH2-O), 34.2 (OCOCH2), 60.3 (CH3CH2), 68.0 (CH2-O-PAB), 114-133 (Ar).

Tetrakis[3-{6-[4-(4-cyanophenylazo)phenoxy]hexanoyloxy}propyl]silane (2). A solution of tetrakis[3-(6-iodohexanoyloxy)propyl]silane 18 (141 mg 0.115 mmol) in EMK (30 mL) was added to a mixture of 4-(4-hydroxyphenylazo)benzonitrile (154 mg 0.690 mmol) and K2CO3 (105 mg 0.761 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 90 °C for 48 h. THF (50 mL) was added to the mixture, and the suspension was washed with water (50 mL × 3). The organic solution was dried over anhydrous Na2SO4. The solvent was evaporated and purified by preparative GPC with THF as the eluent to give 135 mg (73.4%) of 2: 1H-NMR (CDCl3) δ 0.45-0.65 (br, 8 H, SiCH2), 1.20-1.80 (m, 32 H, CH2 (G0, G1)), 2.30-2.45 (t, 8 H, COCH2), 4.00-4.15 (d, 16 H, CH2-O), 6.95-8.05(m, 32 H, Ar); 13C-NMR (CDCl3) δ 173-114 (Ar), 68.0 (CH2), 66.7 (CH2), 34.1 (CH2), 28.8 (CH2), 25.6 (CH2), 24.6 (CH2), 23.0 (CH2), 7.86 (SiCH2).

Tetrakis{3-[tris(3-{6-[4-(4-cyanophenylazo)phenoxy]hexanoyloxy}propyl)silyl]propyl}silane (3). Compound 3 was prepared in a manner similar to that described for 2: 1H-NMR (CDCl3) δ 0.50-0.70 (m, 40 H, SiCH2 (G0, G1)), 1.20-1.40 (m, 8 H, CH2 (G0)), 1.40-1.90 (m, 96 H, CH2 (G1)), 2.30-2.40 (t, 24 H, COCH2), 3.90-4.10 (m, 48 H, CH2-O), 6.90-7.80 (m, 96 H, Ar); 13C-NMR (CDCl3) δ 173-114 (Ar), 118 (C=O), 113 (CN), 68.0 (CH2, G1), 66.7 (CH2, G1), 34.0 (CH2, G1), 28.9 (CH2, G1), 25.6 (CH2, G1), 24.7 (CH2, G1), 23.2 (CH2, G1), 18.4 (CH2, G0), 7.99 (SiCH2, G0, G1).

Tetrakis[3-(tris{3-[tris(3-{6-[4-(4-cyanophynylazo)phenoxy]hexanoyloxy}propyl)silyl]propyl}silyl)-propyl]silane (4). Compound 4 was prepared in a manner similar to that described for 2: 1H-NMR (CDCl3) δ 0.45-0.78 (br, 136 H, SiCH2 (G0, G1, G2)), 1.20-1.80 (m, 320 H, CH2), 2.20-2.40 (t, 72 H, COCH2), 3.85-4.10 (d, 144 H, CH2-O), 6.80-7.90 (m, 288 H, Ar); 13C-NMR (CDCl3) δ 173-114 (Ar), 128 (C=O), 113 (CN), 68.0 (CH2, G2), 66.7 (CH2, G2), 34.0 (CH2, G2), 28.9 (CH2, G2), 25.6 (CH2, G2), 24.7 (CH2, G2), 23.2 (CH2, G2), 18.8 (CH2, G0, G1), 7.99 (SiCH2, G0, G1, G2); MALDI-TOF mass Found: m/z 14797.0. Calcd. for C840H960N108O108Si17Na: [M+Na]+, 14797.7.

Tetrakis[3-(tris{3-[bis(3-{6-[4-(4-cyanophynylazo)phenoxy]hexanoyloxy}propyl)methylsilyl]propyl}-silyl)propyl]silane (5). Compound 5 was prepared in a manner similar to that described for 2. 1H-NMR (CDCl3) δ -0.10-0.10 (s, 36 H, SiCH3), 0.40-0.80 (br m, 112 H, SiCH2 (G0, G1, G2)), 1.20-2.00 (m, 224 H, CH2), 2.20-2.40 (t, 48 H, COCH2), 3.85-4.10 (d, 96 H, CH2-O), 6.80-8.00 (m, 192 H, Ar); 13C-NMR (CDCl3) δ 173-114 (Ar), 128 (C=O), 113 (CN), 68.0 (CH2, G2), 66.7 (CH2, G2), 34.0 (CH2, G2), 28.9 (CH2, G2), 25.6 (CH2, G2), 24.7 (CH2, G2), 23.2 (CH2, G2), 18.8 (CH2, G0, G1), 9.50 (SiCH2, G0, G1, G2), -5.30 (SiCH3); MALDI-TOF mass Found: m/z 10436.6. Calcd. for C588H708N72O72Si17Na: [M+Na]+, 10436.8.

4. Conclusions

Although various azobenzene-substituted dendrimers have been prepared in terms of their photo-responsiveness [15,16,17,18,19], there have been few studies on the problems generated from their conformation. In this paper, we have described the preparation of a series of carbosilane dendrimers having photo-sensitive functionalities and their isomerization process. The results of this study suggested that the densities of the molecules influence their isomerization.