A Sandwich Azobenzene–Diamide Dimer for Photoregulated Chloride Transport

Abstract

There has been a tremendous evolution for artificial ion transport systems, especially gated synthetic systems, which closely mimic their natural congeners. Herein, we demonstrate a trans‐azobenzene‐based photoregulatory anionophoric system that transports chloride by forming a sandwich dimeric complex. Further studies confirmed a carrier‐mediated chloride‐anion antiport mechanism, and the supramolecular interactions involved in chloride recognition within the sandwich complex were revealed from theoretical studies. Reversible trans–cis photoisomerization of the azobenzene was achieved without any significant contribution from the thermal cis →trans isomerization at room temperature. Photoregulatory transport activity across the lipid bilayer membrane inferred an outstanding off‐on response of the azobenzene photoswitch.