Immobilization of a photoswitchable piperidine base.

The synthesis of a photoswitchable piperidine base, carrying a monochlorosilane anchoring group, and its immobilization on silica gel, mimicking an oxide surface, is reported. Efficient photoswitching between the E and Z isomers of the azobenzene photochrome was demonstrated for the immobilization precursor in solution and the immobilized piperidine base in suspension of the functionalized silica gel.