Photoisomerization-induced Change in the Size of Ferrocenylazobenzene-attached Dendrimers

Abstract A family of 3-ferrocenylazobenzene-attached dendrimers, 9mer, 27mer, and 81mer, which is the first series of redox-active photochromic dendrimers exhibit photochromism responding to three different light sources, i.e., 365, 436, and 546 nm lights. Decreases in the size of the dendrimers induced by trans-to-cis photoisomerization appeared and became more significant with increases in the size of the dendrimers up to 81mer. Electrochemical treatment of the 81mer provided a photo-sensitive and redox-active dendrimer film-coated electrode.