Synthesis of Reversible Molecular Photoswitch Based on Diarylethene for Biological Applications

Phenyl-substituted photochromic diarylethene (DAE) bearing amino groups was designed and synthesized. This amino analogue of a reversibly photoisomerizable DAE scaffold have been synthesized through an efficient synthesis route. This approach was undertaken by typical Suzuki cross-coupling reaction between photochromic chloro substituent DAE and commercial available pinacol ester. This analogue can incorporate into living cells as novel molecular approaches to photoregulate biomolecular interactions. The biological activity of the resulting biomolecules could then be effectively controlled by ultraviolet/visible light within strictly defined spatial and temporal limits.