Control of Photoisomerization in Water-soluble Stilbene Dendrimers by Conformation of Dendrons: How Water-soluble Dendrimer Molecules Are Dissolved in Water

Photoisomerization behaviors of carboxylate anion-terminated water-soluble stilbene dendrimers were controlled by difference in conformation of dendrons brought about by difference in number of surface functional groups. This is the first report to discuss in detail how solvent molecules surround dendrimer molecules to dissolve them and to reveal the crucial role that conformation of dendrons plays in determining photochemical properties of water-soluble dendrimers through optical spectroscopy.