Switching the Interior Hydrophobicity of a Self-Assembled Spherical Complex through the Photoisomerization of Confined Azobenzene Chromophores

Synergy effect: A discrete highly cationic spherical Pd12L24 complex was prepared that concentrates 24 photoresponsive azobenzene units internally (see picture; shell blue, N dark blue, Pd yellow, O red, C gray, H white; azobenzene units shown as CPK models). The concentrated azobenzenes provide a hydrophobic environment in the sphere, and the degree of hydrophobicity is reversibly changed by the isomerization of the azobenzenes.