Phenolic azobenzene as ligand for cation complexation - syntheses and applications

Hočevar, Jan (author), Iskra, Jernej (author), Leonard, Estelle (author)

Phenolic azobenzenes have garnered significant attention as functional materials due to their ability to undergo reversible photoisomerization and their potential for cation complexation. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the recent developments in the synthesis, properties, and applications of phenolic azobenzene derivatives in cation binding and complexation. This article explores various synthetic strategies for the preparation of phenolic azobenzenes. Additionally, the mechanisms of cation complexation, including the role of the phenolic hydroxyl group and the azobenzene scaffold, are discussed, along with insights into the coordination chemistry involved. This review further examines the diverse applications of phenolic azobenzene complexes in fields such as ion sensing, catalysis, and biological and DSSC applications.

• Language: English
• Keywords: phenol, azobenzenes, photoisomerization, colorimetric sensors, DSSC dyes, cation complexes
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 35 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 30, iss. 12, art. 2499
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-173644
• UDC: 547.556.31
• ISSN on article: 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules30122499
• COBISS.SI-ID: 242868483
• Publication date in RUL: 19.09.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Molecules
• Shortened title: Molecules
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1420-3049
• COBISS.SI-ID: 18462981

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: fenol, azobenzeni, fotoizomerizacija, kolorimetrični senzorji, barvila DSSC, kationski kompleksi

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P1-0134
• Name: Kemija za trajnostni razvoj