Molecular and biomolecular switches

Molecular switches are among the most basic components of molecular devices. The switching of these molecules is based on their ability to exist in two states and reversibly interconvert between those states. In photochromic molecular switches the stimulus causing the switching process is light. The two states of the switch differ not only in the structure of the molecule, but also in many physical and chemical properties. The design and synthesis of molecular switches capable of modulation of desired properties at the molecular and supramolecular level is a highly desirable goal The synthesis and study of several new photochromic molecular switches, with a focus on the modulation of chiroptical properties, complexation ability and reactivity, is described in this thesis. To extend the possible application of these photochromic switches from the solution to the solid phase, switching of surface bound switches was studied as well. In the final chapters of the thesis a membrane bound protein channel was engineered into a light addressable nanovalve, through coupling with a photochromic molecular switch. The modified protein channel, embedded in a lipid membrane, can be opened and closed using light of different wavelengths.