Photoswitching of an alcohol-sensitive photochromic diarylethene

Light-Induced Dyotropic Rearrangement of Diarylethenes: Scope, Mechanism, and Prospects

Irreversible two-photon photorearrangement of 1,2-diarylethenes is a unique process providing access to complex 2a1 ,5a-dihydro-5,6-dithiaacenaphthylene (DDA) heterocyclic core. This reaction was serendipitously discovered during studies on photoswitchable diarylethenes and was initially considered as a highly undesired process. However, in recent years, it has been recognized as an efficient photochemical reaction, interesting by itself and as a promising synthetic method for the synthesis of challenging molecules. Herein, we discuss the state-of-the-art in studies on this notable process.

Basic enemies of photochromism: irreversible transformation of fluorinated diarylethenes to polyenic enamines and enols

Elongating the π-system of perfluoro-diarylethenes under basic conditions inevitably leads to variable amounts of non-photochromic seven-ring containing byproducts.

A colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor based on diarylethene for simultaneous detection and discrimination of biothiols

In this work, a novel probe D-HBT-NBD (1O) based on diarylethene to detect biothiols (including Cys, Hcy and GSH) was synthesized and the relative colorimetric and fluorescent properties were tested. The probe exhibited excellent photochromic properties and showed apparent colorimetric and fluorescent signals for Cys, Hcy and GSH. The probe can selectively detect Cys, Hcy and GSH by naked eyes for its open-ring isomer 1O and can discriminate Cys from Hcy/GSH by apparent color change from light orange to dark pink at the closed-ring state under the irradiation of UV light. At the excitation wavelength of 465 nm, the probe could be used to discriminate GSH from Cys/Hcy with no fluorescent emission at 570 nm. Taking advantage of the photochromic property of the diarylethene moiety and the different fluorescent properties of NBD derivatives of GSH and Cys/Hcy, 1O could be used as a novel probe to discriminate Cys, Hcy and GSH from each other simultaneously. Meanwhile, a logic gate was constructed based on the colorimetric and fluorescent properties of 1O.

Post-Modification of the Ethene Bridge in the Rational Design of Photochromic Diarylethenes

Fine-tuning of the molecular structure of organic bistable compounds to improve their photochromic performance or to introduce additional functions remains an important issue in the development of photoresponsive materials. Diarylethenes bearing heterocyclic moieties belong to the most intensively studied class of organic photochromes due to their excellent photochemical properties. A huge number of diarylethenes have been synthesized so far. Analysis of the literature data shows that there are very worthy examples of diarylethenes developed by the Irie and Feringa groups, which can be the common starting material for a number of diarylethenes functionalized in hetaryl moieties. We refer to these structures as photochromic diarylethene precursors. These diarylethenes have proved to be very useful in the construction of functional molecules with desired properties. On the other hand, in our groups, we have elaborated on diarylethene precursors with modifiable ethene bridges. In this review, we have collected examples of such structures and their chemical modifications, leading to the improvement or fine-tuning of photochromic switching.