Introducing Wavelength Selectivity for Precise Multimodal Photocleavage

Since the inception of photochemical cleavage strategies targeting multiple functionalities, a rarely addressed yet crucial challenge has been achieving wavelength-selective control over individual photorelease events. While linker-based multichromophoric systems have attempted to tackle this issue, they often suffer from overlapping absorption profiles and lack the precision needed for sequential control. To address this gap, our group has reported the first wavelength-selective photocleavage of multiple functionalities from a monochromophoric platform, enabling clean and distinct activation under blue and red light. This innovation overcomes the inherent spectral crosstalk typically seen in multichromophoric architectures. Building on this, we further developed a dynamic photoremovable protecting group (PRPG) that functions stepwise and wavelength-selectively, offering a new dimension of temporal and spectral control. These systems have been particularly explored for tuning material properties via light, unlocking their potential in responsive polymers, smart materials, and wavelength-specific photopatterning.