Photoswitching of halide-binding affinity and selectivity in dithienylethene-strapped calix[4]pyrrole

Abstract

Dithienylethene-strapped calix[4]pyrrole is isomerized by 300/630 nm light between ring-open and -closed isomers, which affects the size of the anion binding site. Where for chloride this results in only a small change in affinity, that of the larger bromide and iodide ions is majorly affected, resulting in altered selectivity.