polarized light (orientational hole burning). Polarized irradiation will make an azo-material anisotropic and therefore optically birefringent and dichroic. This photo-orientation can also be used to orient other materials (especially in liquid crystal systems). Organometallic chemistry Miscellaneous Azobenzene undergoes ortho-metalation by metal complexes, e.g. dicobalt octacarbonyl: References Cited sources Further reading Of historic interest: Phenyl compounds Azo compounds