Photo-controlled release and uptake of Cu(hfac)2in solution for a binuclear copper complex with a photochromic dithiazolylethene bridging ligandCCDC reference numbers 715795–715800. For crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/b901201j

A photochromic dithiazolylethene was used as bridging ligand to synthesize a series of homometallic binuclear complexes. It was found that the photochromic activity of the bridging ligand was maintained in solution only in the case of the copper binuclear complex. EPR studies revealed not only a weak magnetic coupling between the two copper ions, but also an interesting photo-controlled release and uptake of the Cu(hfac)2moiety in solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]