Molecular Conformation and Structural Changes in Crystalline Photochromism of 3-Furylfulgide

Synthesis and Study of the Optical Properties of a Conjugated Polymer with Configurational Isomerism for Optoelectronics

A π-conjugated polymer (PBQT) containing bis-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-benzo [1,2-b'] bithiophene (BDT) units alternated with a quinoline-vinylene trimer was obtained by the Stille reaction. The chemical structure of the polymer was verified by nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF). The intrinsic photophysical properties of the solution were evaluated by absorption and (static and dynamic) fluorescence. The polymer PBQT exhibits photochromism with a change in absorption from blue (449 nm) to burgundy (545 nm) and a change in fluorescence emission from green (513 nm) to orange (605 nm) due to conformational photoisomerization from the trans to the cis isomer, which was supported by theoretical calculations DFT and TD-DFT. This optical response can be used in optical sensors, security elements, or optical switches. Furthermore, the polymer forms spin-coated films with absorption properties that cover the entire visible range, with a maximum near the solar emission maximum. The frontier molecular orbitals, HOMO and LUMO, were calculated by cyclic voltammetry, and values of -5.29 eV and -3.69, respectively, and a bandgap of 1.6 eV were obtained, making this material a semiconductor with a good energetic match. These properties could suggest its use in photovoltaic applications.

Crystalline state photochromism of 3-furylfulgides: impact of size and bond flexibility of the non-aromatic alkylidene group

3-Furylfulgides are photochromic compounds showing high thermal stability in their closed forms. However, their photochromic properties in the solid state should be improved further to fabricate molecular devices. Understanding how the size and the flexibility of the non-aromatic alkylidene moiety alter the crystalline state photochromic properties is also important here, as the alkylidene group is directly involved in the photochromic ring closing and opening reactions. The synthesis of four 3-furylfulgides composed of different alkylidene groups (rigid isopropyl, flexible 2-butyl, rigid cyclopentyl and flexible cyclohexyl), their crystal structures and structure-photochromic property correlation in the crystalline state are reported here. Crystallographic data along with reaction cavity volumes calculated using the program CAVITY [Ohashi et al. (1981), J. Am. Chem. Soc. 103, 5805-5812] disclosed that fulgides with flexible groups at the ring closing site have more free volume around the reactive area in the crystal lattice, which can provide more space for the atomic movements in the reaction and flexibility can reduce the strain built up in the closed C-isomers by making conformations. According to UV-vis spectroscopic data, a higher yield of C-isomers and a better fatigue resistance were obtained for the 3-furylfulgide with the largest and flexible cyclohexyl group showing greater photochromic properties in the crystalline state than the fulgide containing the smallest and rigid isopropyl group.

Diarylethene microcrystals make directional jumps upon ultraviolet irradiation

Microcrystals of a diarylethene {1,2-bis[5'-methyl-2'-(2"-pyridyl)thiazolyl]perfluorocyclo-pentene} undergo jumps upon photoirradiation. These photochromic crystals present molecular structural changes upon irradiation with ultraviolet light because of reversible photocyclization reactions. When the energy absorbed by crystals reaches about 10 microJ, the uniaxial stress induced in the crystal lattice relaxes through directional jumps. If one prevents crystals from jumping, then parallel, equidistant cracks appear on crystal surfaces. These photomechanical effects could result from a Grinfeld surface instability.