Submission Date

7-24-2026

Document Type

Paper- Restricted to Campus Access

Department

Chemistry

Faculty Mentor

Ryan Walvoord

Comments

Presented during the 28th Annual Summer Fellows Symposium, July 24, 2026 at Ursinus College.

Project Description

Photoswitch compounds are molecules which change shape upon exposure to light. This controllable alteration in structure has allowed photoswitches to find broad applications as dyes, energy storage materials, adhesives, neurochemical signaling agents, and even as possible components to treatments for macular degeneration. Azo compounds, containing an N-N double bond, are a common class of photoswitch. The differing properties of azo compounds can be altered by swapping different chemical groupings around the azo foundation. This project seeks to synthesize a new series of coumarin-based azo compounds through both Mills and diazotization reactions and to characterize their photoisomerization properties. Investigating this library will provide opportunities to understand structural effects on isomerization wavelength, conversion, thermal relaxation rates, and other features relevant to their function. The azocoumarin products offer a useful scaffold for future study. Moreover, this research aims to provide greater understanding and rational design of photoswitches for tailored light-responsive materials, sensors, and other applications.

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