Synthesis and photophysical properties of square and triangular organoplatinum (II) metallacycles

•Organoplatinum metallacycles containing azobenzene groups were prepared by coordination-driven self-assembly.•Square and triangular organoplatinum metallacycles were obtained through changing the flexibility of ligands.•The reversible photoisomerization of triangular metallacycle 2 could be controlled by alternating UV/Vis light irradiation.

Square and triangular organoplatinum metallacycles have been successfully prepared by the reaction of cis-Pt(PEt3)2(OTf)2 and bis(4-pyridyl)-functionalized azo ligands via coordination-driven self-assembly. These metallacycles were isolated in good yields and were characterized by multinuclear NMR (1H and 31P), ESI-TOF-MS and UV–vis spectroscopy. Furthermore, trans-cis photoisomerization of triangular metallacycle 2 was reversibly controlled by alternating UV/Vis light irradiation.

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