Photochromism of Asymmetrical Diarylethenes with a Pyrrole Unit: Effects of Aromatic Stabilization Energies of Aryl Rings

Investigating the Properties of Triangle Terthiophene and Triphenylamine Configured Propeller-like Photochromic Dye with Ethyne Bridge

Synthesis-oriented design led us to the construction of a propeller-like dye, containing the triangle terthiophene and triphenylamine units. It reveals typical photochromic properties with alternated UV (390 nm) and visible light (˃ 440 nm) irradiation and the dye solution (in THF) color was also toggled between yellow-green and colorless. A new absorption band was observed in visible region (415-600 nm). Additionally, the photochromic dye was highly emissive with the absolute quantum yield being 0.27. After UV light irradiation, the emission was quenched significantly (Φ = 0.08) at photo-stationary state, and thus establishing a switchable emission "on-off" system by alternated UV/visible light irradiation cycle. Detailed structural analysis was carried out based on the optimized dye structure. Both the antiparallel conformation and the distance of reactive carbon atoms (< 4.2 Å) led to the smoothly photochromic behavior.

Investigating the Properties of Double Triangle Terthiophene Configured Dumbbell-Like Photochromic Dye with Ethyne and 1,3-Butadiene Bridge

Dumbbell-like photochromic dyes were constructed by incorporation of double triangle terthiophene with ethyne or 1,3-butadiene bridge. Regular photochromic behavior was investigated with alternated UV (365 nm) and Visible light (˃ 400 nm) irradiation. However, the different bridge group leads to distinct difference in their photochromic wavelength. For the ethyne bridged triangle terthiophene (DT1), the photochromic wavelength was observed around 500-700 nm (peak value: 605 nm) and the solution turned to red with 365 nm light irradiation. However, the photochromic wavelength was blue shift to 418-550 nm and the solution was turned to light yellow for 1,3-butadiene bridged dye (DT2). Both of the colored solution can be bleached via visible light irradiation. Additionally, the two dyes in THF were emissive with absolute quantum yield (QY) of 0.36/0.40. Along with the photo-induced photocyclization process, the emissive solution can be effectively quenched at photo-stationary sate (Φ = 0.05/0.04). And emission "on-off" cycle could be established based on the UV/visible light irradiation cycle.

Investigation of Triangle Terthiophene and Hydroxyphenylbenzothiazole Configured Fluorescent Dye with a Triple Bond Bridge

A photochromic dye was constructed by incorporation of a carbon-carbon triple bond spaced triangle terthiophene skeleton and hydroxyphenylbenzothiazole. Regular photochromic behavior was investigated with alternated UV (254 nm) and visible light (≥ 400 nm) irradiation. The color of dye in solution can be cycled between pink and colorless. Additionally, the dye solution strongly fluoresces in THF with the absolute quantum yield (QY) being 0.56. When irradiation with 254 nm light, the emissive solution can be effectively quenched to photo-stationary sate (Φ = 0.05). An emission "on-off" cycle could be established based on the UV/visible light irradiation cycle. The photochromic dye also exhibits good photo- and thermal-stability at room temperature. The emission decay profile indicates typical single component character with the fluorescence lifetime being 6.68 ns. The emission color was determined by the CIE 1931 coordinates of x = 0.14, y = 0.25 in the blue region.

Energy Storage upon Photochromic 6-π Photocyclization and Efficient On-Demand Heat Release with Oxidation Stimuli

Photochromic molecules display reversible isomerization reactions between two isomers accompanied by an exchange between heat and chemical potential. A considerable part of the absorbed light energy is stored in and released from the present E-type photochromic molecules, which undergo cyclization reactions under UV light excitation and backward reactions after application of oxidative stimuli. The photochromic nature, thermal stability, and cascade ring-opening reaction of the closed form isomers of eight photochromic terarylenes are studied, and energy storage efficiencies at a single wavelength, η, as high as 23% are experimentally demonstrated. Their efficient photochemical quantum yield for the cyclization reaction markedly contributes to the high energy storage efficiency as well as showing the capability of efficient cascade cycloreversion reactions. Spontaneous cycloreversion reactions are well-suppressed because the forbidden nature of the cycloreversion reaction gives rise to sufficient heat storage duration.

Synthesis strategies for non-symmetric, photochromic diarylethenes

Diarylethenes (DAEs) represent an important class of photochromes with notable characteristics, like thermally irreversible photoisomerization and high fatigue resistance. Structural diversification of the DAE scaffold has enabled further refinement of photochromic properties and realization of new applications, ranging from advanced materials to tools for studying biological systems. In particular, methods for synthesizing non-symmetric DAE scaffolds, which are typically more challenging to synthesize than their symmetric counterparts, have grown over the past 20 years. These developments are surveyed in this review, with discussion of how access to these compounds has contributed to the improvement of photochromic properties and paved the way for exploring new applications of DAEs. First, non-symmetric DAE structures are classified and their uses and applications are overviewed. Subsequent sections discuss the main strategies that have been used to access non-symmetric DAEs with examples illustrating the impact of non-symmetric DAEs in the growing field of light-controlled molecular systems.

Structure of 7-(3,3,4,4,5,5-hexafluoro-2-(2-methylbenzo[b]thiophen-3-yl)cyclopent-1-en-1-yl)-8-methylquinoline, C24H15F6NS

C24H15F6NS, monclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 10.5279(11) Å, b = 21.242(2) Å, c = 10.7096(11) Å, β = 119.1850(10)°, V = 2091.0(4) Å3, Z = 4, R gt(F) = 0.0488, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1441, T = 296(2) K.

Photoswitchable J-Aggregated Processable Organogel by Integrating a Photochromic Acceptor

A novel π-chromophoric 1,4-bis(anthracenylethynyl)benzene (BAB)-based highly emissive J-aggregated organogel has been synthesized and characterized. Single-crystal structure determination of asymmetric π-chromophoric bola-amphiphilic BAB1 (dodecyl and triethyleneglycolmonomethylether containing side chains of bis(anthracenylethynyl)benzene) supports J-aggregation. Further, a photochromic acceptor chromophore, 4,4'-(perfluorocyclopent-1-ene-1,2-diyl)bis(5-methylthiophene-2-carbaldehyde), is noncovalently encapsulated in the gel and photoswitching studies have been performed based on photochromic Förster resonance energy transfer. The modulated emission of the processable soft material is further exploited for rewritable display. However, BAB2 (dodecyl side chain on both sides) does not show gelation property due to its low solubility.

Effects of heteroaryl ring on the photochromism of asymmetrical diarylethenes containing a naphthalene group

Photochromic asymmetrical diarylethene derivatives 1o-4o bearing different benzo-five-membered heterocyclic rings were synthesized and characterized with single-crystal X-ray diffraction microscopy. The effects of heterocyclic ring on their properties including the photochromic behaviors in solution, solid state and crystalline phase were systematically investigated. The diarylethenes bearing benzothiophene or indole ring exhibited high cyclization quantum yields in solution, and evidently enhanced the fluorescent modulation efficiency in solid state, while those containing benzofuran or thiophene ring exhibited the opposite behaviors. In addition, indole ring red-shifted the absorption maximum, and notably enhanced the fatigue resistance of the diarylethene. These results indicate that heteroaryl ring played an important role in the photoisomerization of these diarylethenes, causing the heterocyclic effect.

A multi-state fluorescent switch based on a diarylethene with an acridine unit

A new asymmetrical fluorescent diarylethene derivative with an acridine unit was synthesized by Schiff base condensation. The derivative was sensitive to lights and special metal ions. Stimulated by UV/vis lights and Zn²⁺, distinct changes were observed in UV-vis and fluorescent spectra. Upon addition of Zn²⁺, the derivative emission peak was blue-shifted by 34nm and the emission intensity was enhanced by 16 fold, accompanied by the fluorescent color changed from red to light yellow, due to the formation of a 1:1 metal/ligand complex. The complex exhibited excellent fluorescence switching upon irradiation with UV light. Taking advantage of the lights and Zn²⁺ stimuli (inputs), and fluorescence intensity at 580nm (output), a molecular logic gate was constructed. Moreover, a new absorption band centered at 420-450nm emerged upon exposure to Zn²⁺. The dramatic color change of the solution made the 'naked-eyes' detection of Zn²⁺ possible.

Synthesis, photoisomerization properties and thermal bleaching kinetics of pyrazolones containing 3-cyanobenzal

Through the design of molecules and the modification of structures, ten novel pyrazolone derivatives containing 3-cyanobenzal have been synthesized. They are 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-(3-cyanobenzal)-5-hydroxypyrazole thiosemicarbazone (1)/4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (2)/4-ethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (3)/4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (4)/4-phenylsemicarbazone (5) and 1,3-diphenyl-4-(3-cyanobenzal)-5-hydroxypyrazole thiosemicarbazone (6)/4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (7)/4-ethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (8)/4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (9)/4-phenylsemicarbazone (10), in which seven compounds (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 10) have photoisomerization behaviors. Their structures, photoisomerization properties, and first-order kinetics were investigated. The results show that the compounds 2, 3, 7 and 8 exhibit irreversible photoisomerization behaviors, the other three compounds have reversible photoisomerization behaviors under 365nm light irradiation and heat. But only 1,3-diphenyl-4-(3-cyanobenzal)-5-hydroxypyrazole 4-phenylsemicarbazone (10) exhibits good photochromic properties and fatigue resistance. Moreover, effects of various temperatures on the thermal bleaching reaction for 10 and substituent groups on the photochromic phenomenon are discussed.

Substituent effects on the properties of photochromic hybrid diarylethenes with a naphthalene moiety

Four new unsymmetrical photochromic diarylethenes bearing both naphthalene and thiophene moieties were synthesized, and the structures of two diarylethenes were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The naphthalene ring was connected directly to the central perfluorocyclopentene ring as an aryl moiety and available to participate in photoisomerization reaction. All the diarylethenes exhibited favorable photochromism and functioned as fluorescence switches in both solution and poly(methyl methacrylate) films. The electron-withdrawing substituent significantly shifted the absorption maxima to a longer wavelength and evidently suppressed the cycloreversion quantum yield, whereas the electron-donating substituents enhanced the fluorescence quantum yield of diarylethenes with a naphthalene moiety. Furthermore, cyclic voltammograms suggested that the oxidation onsets and band-gaps of the open-ring isomers were much bigger than those of the closed-ring isomers. The results indicated that the substituents at the 5-position of thiophene ring could availably modulate their optical and electrochemical behaviors.

Photochromism in sound-induced alignment of a diarylethene supramolecular nanofibre

A photochromic supramolecular nanofibre, composed of a diarylethene derivative, exhibits hydrodynamic alignment upon exposure to the audible sound.

Photoreversible current ON/OFF switching by the photoinduced bending of gold-coated diarylethene crystals

Gold-coated diarylethene crystals exhibited photoreversible bending upon irradiation with UV and visible light without any breaking of the gold layer.

Photomodulable phosphines incorporating diarylethene moieties

Incorporation of the dithienylethene moiety as a substituent provides new ‘switchable’ phosphine ligands whose electronic properties are reversibly modulated by light.

Synthesis, crystal structure and photochromism of new diarylethenes with a benzene moiety

Three unsymmetrical diarylethenes with both thiophene and benzene moieties were synthesized. Their crystal structures and photochromic features were investigated systematically to elucidate the substituent effects of the terminal phenyl group on photochromism. Computational studies were performed to provide further insight into their frontier molecular orbitals and spatial distributions of electronic density. Each compound exhibited favorable photochromism in hexane and functioned as notable fluorescent photo-switches with fluorescence quenching efficiency of ∼96% induced by the intensity change of UV/vis light. Among the three diarylethenes, the cyano group on the terminal phenyl group significantly decreased the distance of the two reactive carbon atoms and strengthened the intermolecular hydrogen bond stacking interactions, resulting in improved stability in crystal state. Furthermore, it exhibited a red-shifted absorption maximum, an enhanced molar absorption coefficient, cyclization quantum yield, and fluorescence quantum yield in solution.

Investigation on CD inversion at visible region caused by a tilt of the π-conjugated substituent: theoretical and experimental approaches by using an asymmetric framework of diarylethene annulated isomer

A substituent effect of asymmetric diarylethene annulated isomer on their chiroptical properties was investigated by means of theoretical and experimental approaches. The absolute configuration of the annulated isomer was determined by X-ray structural analysis and DFT calculation. The TD-DFT calculation successfully reproduced not only the sign but also the shape and magnitude of experimental CD spectrum by considering the Boltzmann-weighted average of four atrop-isomers. A fragment decomposition (FD) analysis of rotatory strength clearly revealed a noteworthy effect; the tilting motion concomitant with the rotating motion of the substituent affects the sign and magnitude of CD signals. It was found that even when the absolute structure of the chiral core moiety does not change, the slight motion of the substituent can trigger the inversion of the CD signal.

A photo- and halochromic multicolor switching system consisting of diarylethene and malachite green moieties

A diarylethene with a malachite green moiety was synthesized, and it showed multicolor states by photochromic and halochromic reactions.

Dithienylethene-based rotaxanes: synthesis, characterization and properties

The photochromic materials have been widely applied in many fields.