Light‐Driven Out‐of‐Equilibrium Helicity Control in a Diarylethene–Helicene Photosystem
- 1Stratingh Institute for Chemistry University of Groningen Groningen the Netherlands
- 2Department of Chemistry University of Zurich Zürich Switzerland
Abstract
Molecular photoswitches are key tools to control responsive functions and to drive systems away from equilibrium by enabling kinetic asymmetry and energy ratchet mechanisms. Incorporating dynamic chirality control within such non‐equilibrium frameworks, however, remains challenging. Here, the responsive behavior of a diarylethene–[5]helicene photoswitch comprising multiple interconverting diastereomers is investigated. Distinct energy profiles govern the helicity dynamics in the open and closed forms of the switch. While helix inversion in the open state is kinetically hindered by a high energy barrier, the closed state allows rapid equilibration toward the thermodynamically favored diastereomer. Upon photochemical ring‐opening, the helicity acquired in the closed state is transferred and kinetically trapped in the open form, generating a persistent out‐of‐equilibrium configuration. This sequence constitutes a rare energy ratchet mechanism operating within a single covalently linked molecule, enabling directional control over helicity. These findings provide a concept for light‐driven helicity control in adaptive chiral systems.
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BibTeX
@article{sidler2026lightdriven,
title = {{Light‐Driven Out‐of‐Equilibrium Helicity Control in a Diarylethene–Helicene Photosystem}},
author = {Eric Sidler and Jinghao Wang and Christina Vallina and Ben L. Feringa},
journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1002/anie.5252700},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.5252700},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Light‐Driven Out‐of‐Equilibrium Helicity Control in a Diarylethene–Helicene Photosystem
AU - Eric Sidler
AU - Jinghao Wang
AU - Christina Vallina
AU - Ben L. Feringa
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/19
JO - Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
DO - 10.1002/anie.5252700
UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.5252700
AB - Molecular photoswitches are key tools to control responsive functions and to drive systems away from equilibrium by enabling kinetic asymmetry and energy ratchet mechanisms. Incorporating dynamic chirality control within such non‐equilibrium frameworks, however, remains challenging. Here, the responsive behavior of a diarylethene–[5]helicene photoswitch comprising multiple interconverting diastereomers is investigated. Distinct energy profiles govern the helicity dynamics in the open and closed forms of the switch. While helix inversion in the open state is kinetically hindered by a high energy barrier, the closed state allows rapid equilibration toward the thermodynamically favored diastereomer. Upon photochemical ring‐opening, the helicity acquired in the closed state is transferred and kinetically trapped in the open form, generating a persistent out‐of‐equilibrium configuration. This sequence constitutes a rare energy ratchet mechanism operating within a single covalently linked molecule, enabling directional control over helicity. These findings provide a concept for light‐driven helicity control in adaptive chiral systems.
SN - 1433-7851
SN - 1521-3773
ER -