A novel fullerene derivative with photoresponsive azobenzene group was designed and synthesized, and its photoresponsive properties were reported. Starting from 4-nitrophenol, compound 1, which is containing fullerene moiety connected to azobenzene group through covalent linkage was synthesized by 5 steps. All the intermediates and the final compound were characterized by ¹H, 13C-NMR, FAB-Mass or elemental analysis. Compound 1 exhibited the expected photoresponsive behavior. Chloroform solution(10-5M) of it served to maximize the absorption at 351 nm corresponding to the trans-azobenzene chromophore. Irradiation of this solution with 365 nm light resulted in photoisomerization to cis-azobenzene, as evidenced by decrease in the absorbance at 351 nm and an increase in absorbance at 450nm. A hotostationary state was reached within about 150 s. Thermal reversion to the original spectrum was observed over the course of about 6 h at room temperature in the dark. However, exposure to bright sun light for about 5 s also effect almost complete reversion to the trans-isomer. This indicates that there is no strong steric influence on the trans-cis reversible isomerization of compound 1.

• 한기종(풍림유화공업주식회사 연구소) | Ki-Jong Han Corresponding author