Conspectus Recently, there has been a great deal of interest in using the
photoisomerization of azobenzene compounds to control specific biological targets in vivo …

The photoisomerization of azobenzenes provides a general means for the photocontrol of
molecular structure and function. For applications in vivo, however, the wavelength of …

The photoisomerization of azobenzene has been known for almost 75 years but only
recently has this process been widely applied to biological systems. The central challenge of …

Introduction of S-ethyl groups in all four ortho positions of azobenzene prevents reduction of
the azo group by intracellular glutathione, while enhancing the absorptivity to∼ 10 000 M− 1 …

Biological tissue exhibits an absorbance minimum in the near-infrared between 700 and
900 nm that permits deep penetration of light. Molecules that undergo photoisomerization in …

Azoheteroarene photoswitches offer functional advantages over their more conventional
azobenzene counterparts by virtue of their heteroaromatic ring (s). Here we report that …

Azobenzene (azo) chromophores have been incorporated into a wide variety of materials
and molecular architectures, including polymers, dendrimers, and molecular glasses …

Molecular photoswitches triggered with red or NIR light are optimal for photomodulation of
complex biological systems, including efficient penetration of the human body for therapeutic …

We have known of azobenzene for over 150 years, the past 80 of which have seen the study
and application of its photochromism. Azobenzene derivatives are now considered …

Most azobenzene-based photoswitches use UV light for photoisomerization. This can limit
their application in biological systems, where UV light can trigger unwanted responses …