A. Vila, F. G. Blandón-Cumbreras, M. Pauls, M. Díaz-Abellás, A. Blanco-Gómez, C. Peinador, P. Remón, C. Bannwarth, U. Pischel, M. D. García. The Journal of Organic, 2026
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.joc.5c02962
Examples of a new class of synthetically straightforward and hydrolytically inert photoswitchable acylhydrazones, named photovermellogens, have been successfully developed and comprehensively studied using state-of-the-art spectroscopic and computational techniques. These compounds present photoswitchable basicity, with irradiation promoting E→Z photoisomerizations, which result in the generation of a less acidic species. The observed ΔpKa values > 1.5 within the biologically relevant window underscore the potential of photovermellogens as versatile platforms for light-triggered pH control.
