Synthesis and Photochromism Studies of 1-(2-Methyl-3-Benzothiophenyl)-2-[2-Methyl-5-(4-Azidomethyl)-3-Thienyl]Perfluorocyclopentene

Abstract

An unsymmetrical photochromic diarylethene 1-(2-methyl-3-benzothiophenyl)-2-[2-methyl-5-(4-azidomethyl)-3-thienyperfluorocyclopentene was synthesized, and its optoelectronic properties were also investigated. The results showed that this compound exhibited reversible photochromism, changing from colorless to darkorange after irradiation with UV light in solution. The open-ring isomer of the diarylethene 1o exhibited relatively strong fluorescence at 457 nm in acetonitrile solution (2×10-5 mol L-1) when excited at 287 nm. The fluorescence intensity decreased along with the photochromism upon irradiation with 297 nm light. The electrochemical properties indicated that the oxidation onset and the Eg of the open-ring isomer were lower than the closed-ring isomer.