Light-controlled ring opening and closing reactions (IMAGE)

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University

Light-controlled ring opening and closing reactions

Caption

The molecular scaffold ‘opens’ when under 285 nm wavelength light, with one carbon-oxygen bond breaking. In this ‘open’ state (B-OH), the molecule exhibits fluorescence, so it’s easy to detect this structural change. The reaction reverses under 325 nm light. The molecule on the left side of the reaction (DHB) is intrinsically chiral, with the two enantiomers (mirror image forms of the molecule) showing opposite circular dichroism (CD) spectra, which measures the difference in absorption of left or right circularly polarized light. 

Credit

Made by Fathy Hassan, using materials from Hassan et al., Chemical Science, 2026, DOI 10.1039/d6sc04288k

Usage Restrictions

Credit the creator and the journal article

License

Original content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.