Photochromism of Diarylethene Molecules and Crystals: Memories, Switches, and Actuators

Light-driven bending of diarylethene mixed crystals

Mixed crystals composed of 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (1a) and 1,2-bis(5-methyl-2-(p-methoxyphenyl)-4-thiazolyl)perfluorocyclopentene (2a) were prepared, and their photochromic as well as light-driven bending performance was studied to reveal how shape changes of individual molecules cause the bending response. 1a and 2a molecules, having similar geometrical structures, randomly mix with each other in a single crystal. The absorption spectra of the closed-ring isomers 1b and 2b were, however, distinctly different. The difference of the spectra made it possible to discriminate the cycloreversion reactions of 1b and 2b in the mixed crystals by irradiation with 750 nm light. The bending response of the mixed crystals by the selective photoisomerization revealed that the local shape change of each molecule is additively linked to the macroscopic deformation of the crystals.

Short Access to Belt Compounds with Spatially Close C=C Bonds and Their Transannular Reactions

Two domino Diels-Alder adducts were obtained from 3,7-bis(cyclopenta-2,4-dien-1-ylidene)-cis-bicyclo[3.3.0]octane and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate or N-methylmaleimide under microwave irradiation. From the first adduct, a C20H24 diene with C2v symmetry was obtained by Zn/AcOH reduction, hydrolysis, oxidative decarboxylation, and selective hydrogenation. Photochemical [2+2] cycloaddition of this diene gave a thermally unstable cyclobutane derivative, which reverts to the diene. However, both the diene and the cyclobutane derivatives could be identified by X-ray diffraction analysis upon irradiation of the diene crystal. New six-membered rings are formed upon the transannular addition of bromine or iodine to the diene. The N-type selectivity of the addition was examined by theoretical calculations, which revealed the distinct susceptibility of the doubly bonded carbon atoms to the bromine attack.

Controlling Motion at the Nanoscale: Rise of the Molecular Machines

As our understanding and control of intra- and intermolecular interactions evolve, ever more complex molecular systems are synthesized and assembled that are capable of performing work or completing sophisticated tasks at the molecular scale. Commonly referred to as molecular machines, these dynamic systems comprise an astonishingly diverse class of motifs and are designed to respond to a plethora of actuation stimuli. In this Review, we outline the conditions that distinguish simple switches and rotors from machines and draw from a variety of fields to highlight some of the most exciting recent examples of opportunities for driven molecular mechanics. Emphasis is placed on the need for controllable and hierarchical assembly of these molecular components to display measurable effects at the micro-, meso-, and macroscales. As in Nature, this strategy will lead to dramatic amplification of the work performed via the collective action of many machines organized in linear chains, on functionalized surfaces, or in three-dimensional assemblies.

Molecular Switching via Multiplicity-Exclusive E/Z Photoisomerization Pathways

Mutual exclusivity in the nature of forward and reserve isomerization pathways holds promise for predictably controlling responses of photoswitchable materials according to molecular structure or external stimuli. Herein we have characterized the E/Z photoisomerization mechanisms of the visible-light-triggered switch 1,2-dithienyl-1,2-dicyanoethene (4TCE) in chlorobenzene with ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy. We observe that switching mechanisms occur exclusively by relaxation through electronic manifolds of different spin multiplicity: trans-to-cis isomerization only occurs via electronic relaxation within the singlet manifold on a time scale of 40 ps; in contrast, cis-to-trans isomerization is not observed above 440 nm, but occurs via two rapid ISC processes into and out of the triplet manifold on time scales of ∼2 ps and 0.4 ns, respectively, when excited at higher energies (e.g., 420 nm). Observation of ultrafast ISC in cis-4TCE is consistent with photoinduced dynamics of related thiophene-based oligomers. Interpretation of the photophysical pathways underlying these isomerization reactions is supported by the observation that cis-to-trans isomerization occurs efficiently via triplet-sensitized energy transfer, whereas trans-to-cis isomerization does not. Quantum-chemical calculations reveal that the T1 potential energy surface is barrierless along the coordinate of the central ethylene dihedral angle (θ) from the cis Franck-Condon region (θ = 175°) to geometries that are within the region of the trans ground-state well; furthermore, the T1 and S1 surfaces cross with a substantial spin-orbital coupling. In total, we demonstrate that E/Z photoswitching of 4TCE operates by multiplicity-exclusive pathways, enabling additional means for tailoring switch performance by manipulating spin-orbit couplings through variations in molecular structure or physical environment.

Toward an Enhancement of the Photoactivity of Multiphotochromic Dimers Using Plasmon Resonance: A Theoretical Study

Building dimers of organic photochromic compounds paves the way to multifunctional switches, but such architectures often undergo partial photoreactivity only. Combining photochromism of molecules and plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles (NPs) is known to affect the photochromism of monomers, yet the impact on multimers remains unknown. Here we propose a theoretical study of dimers of dithienylethenes by the mean of a hybrid calculation scheme (discrete-interaction model/quantum mechanics). We aim to assess how the optical properties of multiphotochromes are tuned by the influence of the plasmon resonances. We show that, for a typical chemisorption orientation on the NP, the absorption bands responsible for the photochromism are significantly enhanced for both the doubly open and mixed closed-open isomers of the dyad, hinting that plasmon resonance could be used to boost the generally poor photoactivity of dithienylethene dyads.

Two-colour fluorescent imaging in organisms using self-assembled nano-systems of upconverting nanoparticles and molecular switches

The water-insolubility of a potentially versatile photoresponsive 'turn-on' fluorescence probe was overcome by incorporating it into a nano-assembly containing an upconverting nanoparticle wrapped in an amphiphilic polymer. The appeal of the nano-system is not only in the ability to turn "on" and "off" the fluorescence from the organic chromophore using UV and visible light, it is in the fact that the nanoparticle acts as a static probe because it emits red and green light when excited by near infrared light, which is not effected by UV and visible light. This dual-functioning emission behaviour was demonstrated in live organisms.

Enforcing Multifunctionality: A Pressure-Induced Spin-Crossover Photomagnet

Photomagnetic compounds are usually achieved by assembling preorganized individual molecules into rationally designed molecular architectures via the bottom-up approach. Here we show that a magnetic response to light can also be enforced in a nonphotomagnetic compound by applying mechanical stress. The nonphotomagnetic cyano-bridged Fe(II)-Nb(IV) coordination polymer {[Fe(II)(pyrazole)4]2[Nb(IV)(CN)8]·4H2O}n (FeNb) has been subjected to high-pressure structural, magnetic and photomagnetic studies at low temperature, which revealed a wide spectrum of pressure-related functionalities including the light-induced magnetization. The multifunctionality of FeNb is compared with a simple structural and magnetic pressure response of its analog {[Mn(II)(pyrazole)4]2[Nb(IV)(CN)8]·4H2O}n (MnNb). The FeNb coordination polymer is the first pressure-induced spin-crossover photomagnet.

Discovery and development of photochromic diarylethenes

A new family of thermally irreversible photochromic molecules, named “diarylethene,” was serendipitously discovered a quarter of a century ago. The diarylethenes undergo thermally irreversible, fatigue resistant, ultrafast and highly sensitive photochromic reactions. Many of diarylethenes can undergo photochromic reactions even in the single-crystalline phase. The outstanding photochromic performance attracts considerable attention from both scientific and technological points of view, and stimulates research from fundamental physico-chemical aspects to various applications. Here, it is reported how such thermally irreversible photochromic diarylethenes were discovered and developed.

A curve-crossing model to rationalize and optimize diarylethene dyads

Extra crossing points play a key role in the photochemistry of diarylethene dyads.

Going from photochromic compounds presenting a single switchable function to multi-addressable photochromic multimers remains an extremely difficult task notably because the interactions of several photochromic units through a linker generally result in a substantial loss of photoactivity. Due to their size and the intrinsic complexity of their electronic structure, coupled photochromes also constitute a fundamental challenge for theoretical chemistry. We present here an effective curve-crossing model that, used in connection with easily accessible ab initio data, allows a first understanding of the difficulty to obtain efficient multiphotochromes. Indeed, we demonstrate that extra crossing points, specific to multiphotochromes, have to be passed to ensure reactivity. In addition, the proposed approach allows the definition of an intuitive tilt criterion that can be used to screen a large number of substitution patterns and hence help in the design of new compounds, an aspect that is also developed here. The compatibility of this tilt criterion with previously proposed static Franck–Condon parameters is discussed as well.

Diarylethene Self-Assembled Monolayers: Cocrystallization and Mixing-Induced Cooperativity Highlighted by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy at the Liquid/Solid Interface

Stimulus control over 2D multicomponent molecular ordering on surfaces is a key technique for realizing advanced materials with stimuli-responsive surface properties. The formation of 2D molecular ordering along with photoisomerization was monitored by scanning tunneling microscopy at the octanoic acid/highly oriented pyrolytic graphite interface for a synthesized amide-containing diarylethene, which underwent photoisomerization between the open- and closed-ring isomers and also a side-reaction to give the annulated isomer. The nucleation (Kn) and elongation (Ke) equilibrium constants were determined by analysis of the concentration dependence of the surface coverage by using a cooperative model at the liquid/solid interface. It was found that the annulated isomer has a very large equilibrium constant, which explains the predominantly observed ordering of the annulated isomer. It was also found that the presence of the closed-ring isomer induces cooperativity into the formation of molecular ordering composed of the open-ring isomer. A quantitative analysis of the formation of ordering by using the cooperative model has provided a new view of the formation of 2D multicomponent molecular ordering.

Visible-Light-Activated Molecular Switches

The ability to influence key properties of molecular systems by using light holds much promise for the fields of materials science and life sciences. The cornerstone of such systems is molecules that are able to reversibly photoisomerize between two states, commonly referred to as photoswitches. One serious restriction to the development of functional photodynamic systems is the necessity to trigger switching in at least one direction by UV light, which is often damaging and penetrates only partially through most media. This review provides a summary of the different conceptual strategies for addressing molecular switches in the visible and near-infrared regions of the optical spectrum. Such visible-light-activated molecular switches tremendously extend the scope of photoswitchable systems for future applications and technologies.

Photoinduced Four-State Three-Step Ordering Transformation of Photochromic Terthiophene at a Liquid/Solid Interface Based on Two Principles: Photochromism and Polymorphism

We have investigated photoinduced ordering transformation of a photochromic terthiophene derivative by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at the trichlorobenzene (TCB)/highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) interface. The open-ring and annulated isomers of the terthiophene formed two-dimensional molecular orderings with different patterns while the closed-ring isomer did not form any ordering. The ordering of the open-ring isomer exhibited polymorphism depending on the concentration of supernatant solution. Upon UV light irradiation to a solution of the open-ring isomer or the closed-ring isomer, ordering composed of the annulated isomer was irreversibly formed. Upon visible light irradiation or thermal stimulus to the closed-ring isomer, the two kinds of polymorph composed of the open-ring isomer were formed due to the polymorphism. By controlling photochromism and polymorphism among four states made of three photochemical isomers, four-state three-step transformation was achieved by in situ photoirradiation from a solution of the closed-ring isomer (no ordering) into the ordering composed of the open-ring isomer (ordering α and β) followed by the orderings composed of the annulated isomer (ordering γ).

Tunable Friction Behavior of Photochromic Fibrillar Surfaces

Grasslike compliant micro/nano crystals made of diarylethene (DAE) photochromic molecules are spontaneously formed on elastomer films after dipping them in a solution containing the photochromic molecules. The frictional forces of such micro- and nanofibrillar surfaces are reversibly tuned upon ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and dark storage cycles. This behavior is attributed to the Young's modulus variation of the single fibrils due to the photoisomerization process of the DAE molecules, as measured by advanced atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. In fact, a significant yet reversible decrease of the stiffness of the outer part of the fibrils in response to the UV light irradiation is demonstrated. The modification of the molecular structure of the fibrils influences their mechanical properties and affects the frictional behavior of the overall fibrillar surfaces. These findings provide the possibility to develop a system that controllably and accurately generates both low and high friction forces.

Flavylium based dual photochromism: addressing cis-trans isomerization and ring opening-closure by different light inputs

The multistate system of 4',7-dihydroxy-3-methoxyflavylium is constituted by a multiequilibrium involving trans-chalcone, cis-chalcone, hemiketal, flavylium cation and quinoidal base. This system possesses two independently addressable inter-connected photochromic systems based on the cis-trans isomerization and ring opening-closure of the hemiketal.

Designing efficient photochromic dithienylethene dyads

Aiming at designing more efficient multiphotochromes, we investigate with the help of ab initio tools the impact of the substitution on a series of dimers constituted of two dithienylethene (DTE) moieties, strongly coupled to each other through an ethynyl linker. The electronic structure and the optical properties of a large panel of compounds, substituted on different positions by various types of electroactive groups, have been compared with the aim of designing a dyad in which the three possible isomers (open-open, closed-open, closed-closed) can be reached. We show that appending the reactive carbons atoms of the DTE core with electroactive groups on one of the two photochromes allows cyclisation to be induced on a specific moiety, which leads to the formation of the desired closed-open isomer. Substituting the lateral positions of the thiophene rings provides further control of the topology of the frontier molecular orbitals, so that the electronic transition inducing the second ring closure stands out in the spectrum of the intermediate isomer.

Hydantoin-based molecular photoswitches

A new family of molecular photoswitches based on arylidenehydantoins is described together with their synthesis and photochemical and photophysical studies. A series of hydantoin derivatives have been prepared as single isomers using simple and versatile chemistry in good yields. Our studies show that the photostationary states of these compounds can be easily controlled by means of external factors, such as the light source or filters. Moreover, the detailed investigations proved that these switches are efficient (i.e., they make efficient use of the light energy, are high fatigue resistant, and are very photostable). In some cases, the switches can be completely turned on/off, a desirable feature for specific applications. A series of theoretical calculations have also been carried out to understand the photoisomerization mechanism at the molecular level.

Enantiospecific photoresponse of sterically hindered diarylethenes for chiroptical switches and photomemories

Light-driven transcription, replication and enzyme catalysis are critically dependent upon a delicate transfer between molecular and supramolecular chirality. Chemists have well realized the impressive stereospecificity over many thermally accessible cycloaddition with chiral catalysts, but making light work in the enantiomer control of diarylethene photocyclization has proved to be more challenging. Here, we report a unique sterically hindered diarylethene (BBTE) system with absolute enantiospecific photocyclization and cycloreversion. Moreover, we have fully separated all the five thermally stable isomers, consisting of one achiral parallel conformer, one pair of anti-parallel ring-open enantiomers, and another pair of ring-closed enantiomers, whose absolute chiral configurations are entirely elucidated by single X-ray crystallographic analyses. The photo-responsive feature exhibits a reversible, complete enantio-control transformation without racemism, offering an unrivaled unimolecular enantiospecific platform for potential applications as bistable chiroptical switches and all-photonic photomemories with optical rotation as non-destructive readout.

Surface-induced selection during in situ photoswitching at the solid/liquid interface

Here we report for the first time a submolecularly resolved scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) study at the solid/liquid interface of the in situ reversible interconversion between two isomers of a diarylethene photoswitch, that is, open and closed form, self-assembled on a graphite surface. Prolonged irradiation with UV light led to the in situ irreversible formation of another isomer as by-product of the reaction, which due to its preferential physisorption accumulates at the surface. By making use of a simple yet powerful thermodynamic model we provide a quantitative description for the observed surface-induced selection of one isomeric form.