Photoactivable malachite green-based alkynylplatinum() 2,6-bis(-alkylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine complexes

Photo-responsive malachite green moieties have been incorporated into an alkynylplatinum( ii ) bzimpy system. The photo-caged complexes in acetonitrile solutions exhibit self-assembly properties modulable by photo-removal of the cyano protecting group. Distinct aggregate morphologies, which are facilitated by the non-covalent metal-metal and π-π stacking interactions, have been observed before and after photo-irradiation. Alkynylplatinum( ii ) bzimpy complexes with photoactivable malachite green exhibit distinct self-assembly properties before and after photo-removal of the cyano group, which are brought about by the changes in the metal-metal and π-π interactions.