Photoactivable malachite green-based alkynylplatinum(II) 2,6-bis( N -alkylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine complexes.

Photo-responsive malachite green moieties have been incorporated into an alkynylplatinum(II) bzimpy system. The photo-caged complexes in acetonitrile solutions exhibit self-assembly properties modulable by photo-removal of the cyano protecting group. Distinct aggregate morphologies, which are facilitated by the non-covalent metal-metal and π-π stacking interactions, have been observed before and after photo-irradiation.