Photo-induced 6π-electrocyclisation and cycloreversion of isolated dithienylethene anions

The diarylethene chromophore is commonly used in light-triggered molecular switches. The chromophore undergoes reversible 6π-electrocyclisation (ring closing) and cycloreversion (ring opening) reactions upon exposure to UV and visible light, respectively, providing bidirectional photoswitching. Here, we investigate the gas-phase photoisomerisation of meta- (m) and para- (p) substituted dithienylethene carboxylate anions (DTE^-) using tandem ion mobility mass spectrometry coupled with laser excitation. The ring-closed forms of p-DTE^- and m-DTE^- are found to undergo cycloreversion in the gas phase with maximum responses associated with bands in the visible (λ_max ≈ 600 nm) and the ultraviolet (λ_max ≈ 360 nm). The ring-open p-DTE^- isomer undergoes 6π-electrocyclisation in the ultraviolet region at wavelengths shorter than 350 nm, whereas no evidence is found for the corresponding electrocyclisation of ring-open m-DTE^-, a situation attributed to the fact that the antiparallel geometry required for electrocyclisation of m-DTE^- is energetically disfavoured. This highlights the influence of the carboxylate substitution position on the photochemical properties of DTE molecules. We find no evidence for the formation in the gas phase of the undesirable cyclic byproduct, which causes fatigue of DTE photoswitches in solution.

Light-Controlled Reversible Modulation of Frontier Molecular Orbital Energy Levels in Trifluoromethylated Diarylethenes

Among bistable photochromic molecules, diarylethenes (DAEs) possess the distinct feature that upon photoisomerization they undergo a large modulation of their π-electronic system, accompanied by a marked shift of the HOMO/LUMO energies and hence oxidation/reduction potentials. The electronic modulation can be utilized to remote-control charge- as well as energy-transfer processes and it can be transduced to functional entities adjacent to the DAE core, thereby regulating their properties. In order to exploit such photoswitchable systems it is important to precisely adjust the absolute position of their HOMO and LUMO levels and to maximize the extent of the photoinduced shifts of these energy levels. Here, we present a comprehensive study detailing how variation of the substitution pattern of DAE compounds, in particular using strongly electron-accepting and chemically stable trifluoromethyl groups either in the periphery or at the reactive carbon atoms, allows for the precise tuning of frontier molecular orbital levels over a broad energy range and the generation of photoinduced shifts of more than 1 eV. Furthermore, the effect of different DAE architectures on the transduction of these shifts to an adjacent functional group is discussed. Whereas substitution in the periphery of the DAE motif has only minor implications on the photochemistry, trifluoromethylation at the reactive carbon atoms strongly disturbs the isomerization efficiency. However, this can be overcome by using a nonsymmetrical substitution pattern or by combination with donor groups, rendering the resulting photoswitches attractive candidates for the construction of remote-controlled functional systems.

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.

Photochromism of a spiropyran and a diarylethene in bile salt aggregates in aqueous solution

Bile salt aggregates incorporate aqueous-insoluble photochromic compounds. The photochromism of a spiropyran (1, 1',3',3'-trimethyl-6-nitrospiro[2H-1]-benzopyran-2,2'-indoline) and a diarylethene derivative (2, 1,2-bis(2,4-dimethyl-5-phenyl-3-thienyl)-3,3,4,4,5,5-hexafluoro-1-cyclopentene) was quantified in different bile salt aggregates. These aggregates act as efficient hosts to solubilize aqueous insoluble photochromic compounds where either both isomers are nonpolar, for example, 2, or compounds where one isomer is hydrophobic and the other is more polar, for example, 1. Methodology was developed to determine molar absorptivity coefficients for solutions containing both isomers and to determine the photoconversion quantum yields under continuous irradiation. The methods were validated by determining parameters in homogeneous solution, which were the same as previously reported. In the case of the colored isomer of 1, the molar extinction coefficient in ethanol at 537 nm ((3.68 ± 0.03) × 10(4) cm(-1) M(-1)) was determined with higher precision. The quantum yields for the photoconversion between the isomers of 2 were shown to be the same in cyclohexane and in the aggregates of sodium cholate (NaCh), deoxycholate (NaDC), and taurocholate (NaTC), showing that bile salt aggregates are not sufficiently rigid to affect the equilibrium between the two possible conformers of the colorless form. In contrast, for 1 the quantum yields for the conversion from the colorless to the colored isomer were higher in bile salts than in ethanol, and the quantum yield was highest in the more hydrophobic aggregates of NaDC, followed by NaCh and then NaTC. The structure of the bile salt had no effect on the quantum yield for the conversion of the colored to the colorless isomer of 1, but these values were higher than in ethanol. For all three bile salts, the absorption maximum for the colored form of 1 suggested that this isomer was located in an environment that is more polar than ethanol.

Preparation of brominated 2-alkoxythiophenes via oxidation and etherification of 2-thienyltrifluoroborate salts

The synthesis of ring brominated long-chain 2-alkoxythiophenes is reported, involving mild (Oxone) oxidation of readily prepared 2-thienyltrifluoroborate salts followed by Mitsunobu etherification. Both procedures are operationally straightforward and use inexpensive reagents. Using this approach, several novel mono- and dibrominated octyloxythiophenes with previously elusive substitution patterns were prepared. One such compound was elaborated to a novel 5-alkoxythieno[3,2-b]thiophene-2-carboxylate ester, marking the first synthetic entry into this family of compounds.

Photochromism of diarylethene molecules and crystals

Photochromism is defined as a reversible transformation of a chemical species between two isomers upon photoirradiation. Although vast numbers of photochromic molecules have been so far reported, photochromic molecules which exhibit thermally irreversible photochromic reactivity are limited to a few examples. The thermal irreversibility is an indispensable property for the application of photochromic molecules to optical memories and switches. We have developed a new class of photochromic molecules named "diarylethenes", which show the thermally irreversible photochromic reactivity. The well designed diarylethene derivatives provide outstanding photochromic performance: both isomers are thermally stable for more than 470,000 years, photoinduced coloration/decoloration can be repeated more than 10(5) cycles, the quantum yield of cyclization reaction is close to 1 (100%), and the response times of both coloration and decoloration are less than 10 ps. This review describes theoretical background of the photochromic reactions, color changes of the derivatives in solution as well as in the single crystalline phase, and application of the crystals to light-driven actuators.

Structure and photochemical properties of biindenylidene derivatives in the solid state

Two photochromic compounds, trans-3,3′-dipentyl-3,3′-dihydroxy-2,2′-bi-1H-indene-1,1′-dione (I), and cis-3,3′-di (2-methylally)-3,3′-dihydroxy-2,2′-bi-1H-indene-1,1′-dione (II), were synthesised and their crystal structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. The photoinduced properties of the compound were studied. The results showed that compound I exhibited reversible photochromism, and at the same time a stable organic radical was generated, while compound II did not show photochemical properties.

Photochromism and Crystal Structure of 3,3′-dimethyl-3,3′-dihydroxy-5, 5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bi-1H-indanylidene-1,1′-dione

A novel photochromic compound, 3,3′- dimethyl-3,3′-dihydroxy-5,5′-dimethyl -2,2′-bi-1H-indanylidene-1,1′-dione (I), was synthesised and its structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. The compound exhibited reversible photochromism, and a stable organic radical was generated which was detected by electron spin resonance spectroscopy.

Photochromism of Diarylethene Single Molecules in Polymer Matrices

Robust fluorescent photoswitching molecules, having perylene bisimide as the fluorescent unit and diarylethene as the switching unit, were prepared, and their photochromic reactions were measured at the single-molecule level in various polymer matrices. The histograms of the fluorescent on and off times were found to deviate from normal exponential distribution and showed a peak when the molecules are embedded in rigid polymer matrices, such as Zeonex or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). In soft polymer matrices, such as poly(n-buthyl methacrylate) (PnBMA), exponential distribution was observed for the on and off times. The abnormal distribution suggests that the quantum yields of the photoreactions are not constant and the molecules undergo the reactions after absorbing a certain number of photons. A multilocal minima model was proposed to explain the environmental effect.

1,3-Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanediyl: The Shortest Rigid Linear Connector of Phenylated Photochromic Units and a 1,5-Dimethoxy-9,10-di(phenylethynyl)anthracene Fluorophore

An excess of bis-1,3-(4-iodophenyl)bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane, prepared in 63 % yield by iodination of 1,3-diphenylbicyclo[1.1.1]pentane, was selectively mono-coupled with 9-ethynyl-1,5-dimethoxy-10-phenylethynylanthracene (26), and subsequently with the zinc derivatives of 1-(2-methyl/methoxy-4-methyl-5-phenylthiophen-3-yl)-2-(2-methyl/methoxy-4-methylthiophen-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentenes (38-H-41-H). Regioselective synthesis of the 2-unsubstituted thiophenes 38-H-41-H required intermediate preparation of 2-trimethylsilyl-3,5-dimethyl-4-bromothiophene (37) or 2-trimethylsilyl-5-methoxy-3-methyl-4-bromothiophene (40). Protection of the alpha-position of the thiophene ring with a 2-trimethylsilyl group blocks the rearrangement of the 4-lithio derivatives into the corresponding 2-lithiated thiophenes. With the bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane fragment linking the photochromic units 1-3 and 1,5-dimethoxy-9,10-di(phenylethynyl)anthracene as a fluorescent part, quantitative resonance energy transfer between the excited state of the fluorophore (donor) and the closed form of the photochromic units 1-3 (acceptors) was observed. The closed forms of the methoxy-substituted photochromic units 2 and 3 are less resistant to UV light (313 nm) than the closed form of 1.

Photochromism of diarylethene single crystals: crystal structures and photochromic performance

Diarylethenes undergo thermally irreversible and fatigue-resistant photochromic reactions not only in solution but also in the single-crystalline phase. This article describes recent development of the single-crystalline photochromism of diarylethene derivatives. We focused on the relationship between their crystal structures and the photochromic performance. Photocyclization/cycloreversion quantum yields, absorption spectra, the absorption anisotropies, and surface morphology changes are strongly dependent on the conformations and packing structures of the molecules in the crystals.