Azobenzene

DescriptionAzobenzene is a well-known derivative of stimulus-responsive molecular switches and has shown superior performance as a functional material in biomedical applications.Azobenzene is a typical photo-responsive molecule that isomerizes from its planar trans-form to the non-planar cis-form after UV-light irradiation with a wavelength between 300 nm and 400 nm (lmax is around 330 nm). Interestingly, the system reverts from the cis-form to the trans-form after further irradiation with visible light (wavelength over 400 nm). This process is completely reversible, and the azobenzene group does not decompose or induce undesirable side reactions even on repeated trans-cis isomerization. By introducing azobenzenes into DNA through D-threoninol as a linker, Asanuma and co-workers succeeded in achieving photo-regulation of:Formation and dissociation of a DNA duplexTranscription by T7-RNA polymerase reaction

UsesAzobenzene is used as an acaricide and insecticide, as a precursor for dyes and polymers, and as an optical trigger for the design and synthesis of a wide variety of photoresponsive systems. It may also occur as an impurity in the production of phenylbutazone (P319570).

General DescriptionAzobenzene is a chromogen and an azo compound that exhibits trans/cis isomerism yielding isomers that differ in color. It is a simple azoarene compound that shows cis-trans isomerization around the azo bond in response to light.