Phenylethynyl (PE) dendron framework has been synthesized to serve as a drug carrier. The periphery of the carrier is equipped with phenacyl groups, a well studied phototrigger, to deliver drugs in the response of light signals with control of the spatial and temporal release. The dendron is known to have multiphoton absorptivity that might render release of drugs using IR light.

Upon photolysis under UV, PE dendron showed a potentially useful photoinduced Bergman cyclizaion along with the competing phototriggering phenomenon. The photorelease products and photoinduced Bergman cyclization products are being isolated and characterized. The mechanistic study and quantum efficiency will be further investigated.