Electrochromism in photochromic dithienylcyclopentenes

Both photochromic and unprecedented electrochromic properties have been observed for a class of 1,2-bis(3-thienyl)cyclopentene derivatives bearing either a thiophene or a phenyl group attached to the reactive carbon centers. These compounds can be interconverted between their colorless ring-open and colored ring-closed states using UV and visible light, respectively. They can also be catalytically transformed from their ring-closed states to their ring-open states through electrochemical or chemical oxidation.     

Ultrafast bidirectional photoswitching of a spiropyran

We report on bidirectional photochemical switching of 6,8-dinitro-1',3',3'-trimethylspiro[2H-1-benzopyran-2,2'-indoline] (6,8-dinitro-BIPS) between the ring-closed spiropyran and the ring-open merocyanine form. This is studied by femtosecond three-color pump-repump-probe experiments. Both ring opening and ring closure are photoinduced. Completion of an entire cycle, consisting of opening and subsequent closure, can be achieved within 40 ps. A much shorter time (<6 ps) is needed for the converse cycle, consisting of initial ring closure and subsequent ring opening. Furthermore, we perform pump-probe experiments with ultraviolet/visible pump and visible/mid-infrared probe pulses for an unambiguous spectroscopic identification of the open and closed molecular forms. Following visible excitation of the ring-open molecules, ultrafast ring closure is observed directly in the mid-infrared. The quantum efficiencies for ring opening and ring closure starting from the respective equilibirum states are determined to be approximately 9% and 40%. These results show that 6,8-dinitro-BIPS is an ultrafast bidirectional molecular switch exhibiting a high quantum efficiency.     

Oxidative electrochemical switching in dithienylcyclopentenes, Part 2: effect of substitution and asymmetry on the efficiency and direction of molecular switching and redox stability

The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of a series of C5-substituted dithienylhexahydro- and dithienylhexafluorocyclopentenes are reported. The effect of substitution at C5 of the thienyl moiety on the redox properties is quite dramatic, in contrast to the effect on their photochemical properties. The efficiency of electrochemical switching is dependent both on the central cyclopentene unit and on the nature of the substituents, whereby electron-donating moieties favour oxidative electrochemical ring-closure and vice versa. Asymmetrically substituted dithienylcyclopentenes were investigated to explore the ring-closure process in more detail. The results indicate that electrochemically induced ring-closure occurs via the monocation of the open form. In the presence of electroactive groups at C5 of the thienyl ring (e.g., methoxyphenyl) initial oxidation of these groups is followed by intermolecular electron transfer, which drives ring-closure of the open forms.     

Understanding electrochromic processes initiated by dithienylcyclopentene cation-radicals

Simple photochromic dithienylethylenes with either a perfluoro or a perhydro cyclopentene ring, and a variety of substituents (chlorine, iodine, trimethylsilyl, phenylthio, aldehyde, carboxylic acid, and ethynylanisyl), have been prepared and their electrochemical behavior was explored by cyclic voltammetry. All dithienylethylenes present two-electron irreversible oxidation waves in their open form, but the cation-radical of the open isomers can follow two different reaction pathways: dimerization or ring closure, whereas the halogen derivatives follow a dimerization mechanism, the presence of donor groups, such as the phenylthio-substituted compound, promote an efficient oxidative ring closure following an ECE/DISP mechanism. Electrochromic properties are also found in the corresponding ring-closed isomers. Depending on the substituents on the thiophene ring, and the perfluro or perhydro cyclopentene ring, open isomers can be obtained from oxidation (chemical or electrochemical) of the corresponding ring-closed isomers via an EC mechanism. This reaction pathway is favored by the presence of electron-withdrawing groups in the molecule. For all these compounds, closed or open, the oxidation lies between 0.8 and 1.5 V vs SCE, and provokes a permanent modification of the color, even after an oxidation-reduction cycle. This could be qualified as "electrochromism with memory". On the other hand, the ring-closed electron-rich isomers (E degrees < 0.8 V), which show reversible waves at the cation-radical or even dication level, give rise to "true electrochromism", for which no structural changes are observed. The experimental study was completed by theoretical calculations at the DFT level, using B3LYP density functional, which gave information on the total energy, the geometry, and the electronic structures of several representative compounds, either in the neutral form or in the cation-radical state. These results are important for the potential design of photochromic systems, such as three-state conjugated systems and photoelectrical molecular switching devices.     

One-step synthesis and photochromic properties of a stable triangle terthiophene

A new photochromic compound based on the hexatriene backbone was prepared by one-step coupling. The photochromic backbone, composed of three thiophene ring, undergoes reversible ring-opening and ring-closing photoisomerization reactions when irradiated with ultraviolet and visible light, respectively. It exhibited fatigue resistance and thermally irreversible photochromic properties. The ring-open form exhibits appreciable fluorescence, while quenched by the ring-closed form.     

Fast and stable photochromic oxazines for fluorescence switching

The stringent limitations imposed by diffraction on the spatial resolution of fluorescence microscopes demand the identification of viable strategies to switch fluorescence under optical control. In this context, the photoinduced and reversible transformations of photochromic compounds are particularly valuable. In fact, these molecules can be engineered to regulate the emission intensities of complementary fluorophores in response to optical stimulations. On the basis of this general design logic, we assembled a functional molecular construct consisting of a borondipyrromethene fluorophore and a nitrospiropyran photochrome and demonstrated that the emission of the former can be modulated with the interconversion of the latter. This fluorophore-photochrome dyad, however, has a slow switching speed and poor fatigue resistance. To improve both parameters, we developed a new family of photochromic switches based on the photoinduced opening and thermal closing of an oxazine ring. These compounds switch back and forth between ring-closed and -open isomers on nanosecond-microsecond timescales and tolerate thousands of switching cycles with no sign of degradation. In addition, the attachment of appropriate chromophoric fragments to their switchable oxazine ring can be exploited to either deactivate or activate fluorescence reversibly in response to illumination with a pair of exciting beams. Specifically, we assembled three dyads, each based on either a borondipyrromethene or a coumarin fluorophore and an oxazine photochrome, and modulated their fluorescence in a few microseconds with outstanding fatigue resistance. The unique photochemical and photophysical properties of our fluorophore-photochrome dyads can facilitate the development of switchable fluorophores for superresolution imaging and, ultimately, provide valuable molecular probes for the visualization of biological samples on the nanometer level.     

Mechanistic insights into the photochromism of trans-10b,10c-dimethyl-10b,10c-dihydropyrene derivatives

A series of dimethyldihydropyrene derivatives was studied to elucidate the photochemical mechanism associated with the switching between the dimethyldihydropyrene (DHP, closed) and metacyclophanediene (CPD, open) forms of the molecule. Quantum yields of ring opening and closure, fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes, as well as laser flash photolysis studies were performed to establish the effect of substituents on the switching efficiency. Ring opening of the DHPs occurs from the first singlet excited state. The low quantum yields for the ring opening reaction observed (< or =0.042) are a consequence of the low rate constant (< or =1.7 x 10(7) s(-1)) for this process. The quantum yields for ring closure of the CPD were determined for select compounds and were of the order of 0.1-0.4. These results show that the efficiency for ring opening of this class of compounds is intrinsically low, but can be modulated to some extent by the introduction of substituents. These properties should be taken into account when considering what type of photoswitching devices DHPs might be useful for.     

Photoswitchable electrochemical behaviour of a [FeFe] hydrogenase model with a dithienylethene derivative

A diiron dithiolate complex 1o with a dithienylethene (DTE) phosphine ligand has been elaborately designed and fully investigated by spectroscopic and DFT computational studies. Upon irradiation with UV light, the DTE moiety in complex 1o undergoes an excellent photocyclization reaction to attain ring-closed state 1c in high yield (>95%), accompanied by a colour change from orange to deep blue. On the other hand, upon irradiation with visible light (>460 nm), ring-closed form 1c in CH(3)CN solution reverts perfectly into ring-open form 1o. Both 1o and 1c were characterised by IR, (1)H, (31)P, (19)F NMR and electrochemical spectroscopy. The electrochemical behaviours of both the open and closed forms were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Upon photocyclization reaction, a 290 mV (from -2.29 V to -2.00 V) positive shift is induced in the potential of electrochemical catalytic proton reduction, due to the electron-withdrawing effect of the ring-closed DTE moiety. Consequently, complex 1 can reversibly photoswitch the potential of proton reduction on the [FeFe] moiety.     

Photomodulation of Lewis basicity in a pyridine-functionalized 1,2-dithienylcyclopentene

The ability of a pyridine ligand on the photoresponsive 1,2-dithienylethene backbone to coordinate to a ruthenium porphyrin is modulated by interconverting the compound between its electronically insulated ring-open and electronically connected ring-closed form.     

Computer simulation of the isomerization mechanism and spectral characteristics of spiro[1,3,4]oxadiazines

Structural and spectral characteristics of spiro[1,3,4]oxadiazines were calculated by density functional theory method (B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)). It is shown that a fundamental difference of spirooxadiazines from known spirocyclic compounds is that the ring-opened form is more energetically favorable (by 4.9 kcal mol^–1) compared to the ring-closed one. The closeness between the total energies of closed and open forms of spirooxadiazines suggests all isomers to coexist in solution. The intramolecular rearrangements of compounds under study associated with bond cleavage—formation are accompanied by overcoming of lower-energy barriers than those in the case of analogous spiropyrans and spiroxazines. The calculated electronic spectra (TD DFT) and overlapping absorption band maxima of the closed and open spirooxadiazine forms suggest a low probability of photoinitiated ring opening—closure in this compound.     

[2H] Labelling studies on the mechanism of electrocyclic aromatic substitution by the diazo-group

A primary deuterium isotope effect has been observed in the cyclisation of diazo- compounds (1) selectively deuteriated at the ring closure sites.     

Low-Bias Conductance Mechanism of Diarylethene Isomers:a First-Principle Study

The structure-property relationship of diarylethene (DAE)-derivative molecular isomers, which involve ring-closed and ring-open forms, is investigated by employing the non-equilibrium Green's function formalism combined with density functional theory. Molecular junctions are formed by the isomers connecting to Au(111) electrodes through flanked pyridine groups. The difference in electronic structures caused by different geometry structures for the two isomers, particularly the interatomic alternative single bond and double bond of the ring-closed molecule, contributes to the vastly different low-bias conductance values. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the isomers is the main channel for electron transport. In addition, more electrons transferred to the ring-closed molecular junction in the equilibrium condition, thereby decreasing the LUMO energy to near the Fermi energy, which may contribute to a larger conductance value at the Fermi level. Our findings are helpful for understanding the mechanism of low-bias conductance and are conducive to the design of high-performance molecular switching based on diarylethene or diarylethene-derivative molecules.     

Ring contraction/transannular cyclization of chiral bicyclo[3.3.1]nonanediones mediated by thallium(III) nitrate

The reaction of several chiral bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ketones mediated by thallium(III) nitrate to afford ring contraction products is investigated. The effect of solvent on the oxidation is discussed, and the use of thallium(III) nitrate for the oxidative rearrangement of regioisomers of bicyclononanones is outlined. In compounds with proximately located carbonyl groups in the bicyclic framework, unexpected transannular ring closure was observed.     

Photoswitchable Fluorescent Self-Assembled Metallacycles with High Photostability

In this study, photoswitchable fluorescent supramolecular metallacycles with high fatigue-resistance have been constructed by coordination-driven self-assembly by using bithienylethene with dipyridyl units ( BTE ) as a coordination donor and a fluorescent di-platinum(II) ( Pt-F ) as a coordination acceptor. The photo-triggered reversible transformation between the ring-open and ring-closed form of the metallacycles was confirmed by ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR, and UV/Vis spectroscopy. This unique property enabled a reversible noninvasive “off–on” switching of fluorescence through efficient Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). Importantly, the metallacycles remained structurally intact after up to 10 photoswitching cycles. The photoresponsive property and exceptional photostability of the metallacycles posit their potential promising application in optical switching, image storage, and super-resolution microscopy.     

Redox transformations and antiradical activity of triarylantimony(V) 3,6-di-tert-butyl-4,5-dimethoxycatecholates

Triarylantimony(V) catecholate complexes were synthesized by the oxidative addition of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-4,5-dimethoxy-o-benzoquinone to triarylstibines. The electrochemical properties and antiradical activity of the synthesized compounds were studied. According to cyclic viltammetry data, the complexes are oxidized via two consecutive quasi-reversible stages. Introduction of halogen atoms in para-position of phenyl groups at Sb(V) causes anodic shifts of the oxidation potentials and enhances stability of the mono- and dicationic forms of the compounds, which form in the course of electrochemical transformations. Triarylantimony(V) catecholate complexes exhibit appreciable antiradical activity in the auto-oxidation of oleic acid. In was found that the inhibitory activity of the complexes depends on their redox potential.     

Solvents effects in the photodegradation and reactivity of the various ionic forms of haematoporphyrin

The dependence of the ionic forms of haematoporphyrin(LX) dihydrochloride (HpdiCl) on solvent composition was investigated. In 2.8 x 10(-4) M solutions of HpdiCl in apolar (C6H6) and polar (CH3CN) solvents, HpdiCl exists in dicationic form. In hydrogen-bonding solvents, such as CH3OH, HpdiCl can exist in neutral, monocationic and dicationic forms. In C6H6-CH3OH solvent mixtures, the ionic forms in which HpdiCl is present depend on the composition of the solvent and on the acidity of the solution. The rate of oxidative photodegradation of HpdiCl excitation in its Q bands (WBI) and the ability to produce free radicals are different for the different ionic species. The highest values correspond to the dicationic form of HpdiCl and the lowest values correspond to the neutral species. In the absence of oxygen, the formation of free radicals due to the reaction of 3(Hp dication) is detected in the following solvent mixtures: CH3OH-toluene, CH3OH-ethylbenzene, CH3OH-hexane. The data obtained indicate that interaction of 3(Hp dication) with methine groups is an intermediate step in the formation of free radicals. In the HpdiCl concentration range studied, the presence of a phenolic antioxidant, such as beta-naphtol, inhibits the oxidative photodegradation of the dicationic form in a treated solution, but has little effect on the oxidative photobleaching of the monocation. The rate of oxidative photodegradation of the monocationic form increases with the addition of propionic acid to the solution.     

Synthesis and Redox and Photophysical Properties of Benzodifuran–Spiropyran Ensembles

Two benzodifuran (BDF)‐coupled spiropyran (SP) systems and their BDF reference compounds were obtained in good yields through Huisgen–Meldal–Sharpless “click” chemistry and then subjected to investigation of their electrochemical and photophysical properties. In both SP and merocyanine (MC) forms of the coupled molecules, the BDF‐based emission is quenched to around 1 % of the quantum yield of emission from the BDF reference compounds. Based on electrochemical data, this quenching is attributed to oxidative electron‐transfer quenching. Irradiation at 366 nm results in ring opening to the MC forms of the BDF‐coupled SP compounds and the SP reference compound with a quantum efficiency of about 50 %. The rate constants for the thermal ring closing are approximately 3.4×10^?3 s^?1. However, in the photostationary states the MC fractions of the coupled molecules are substantially lower than that of the reference SP compound, attributed to the observed acceleration of the ring‐closing reaction upon irradiation. As irradiation at 366 nm invariably also excites higher‐energy transitions of the BDF units in the coupled compounds, the ring‐opening reaction is accelerated relative to the SP reference, which results in lower MC fractions in the photostationary state. Reversible photochromism of these BDF‐coupled SP compounds renders them promising in the field of molecular switches.     

A new soluble conducting polymer and its electrochromic devices

A new polythiophene derivative was synthesized by both chemical and electrochemical oxidative polymerization of 1‐(1‐phenylethyl)‐2,5‐di(2‐thienyl)‐1H‐pyrrole (PETPy). Of which the chemical method produces a polymer that is completely soluble in organic solvents. The structures of both the monomer and the soluble polymer were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H and ¹³C NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The average molecular weight has been determined by gel permeation chromatography to be M_n = 3.29 × 10³ for the chemically synthesized polymer. Polymer of PETPy was synthesized via potentiostatic electrochemical polymerization in acetonitrile (AN)/NaClO₄/LiClO₄ (0.1 M) solvent–electrolyte couple. Characterizations of the resulting polymer were performed by cyclic voltammetry, FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, and UV–vis spectroscopy. Four‐probe technique was used to measure the conductivities of the samples. Moreover, the spectroelectrochemical and electrochromic properties of the polymer films were investigated. In addition, dual‐type polymer electrochromic devices based on P(PETPy) with poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) were constructed. Spectroelectrochemistry, electrochromic switching, and open circuit stability of the devices were studied. They were found to have good switching times, reasonable contrasts, and optical memories. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2215–2225, 2006     

Electrochemical origin of voltage-controlled molecular conductance switching

We have studied electron transport in bipyridyl-dinitro oligophenylene-ethynelene dithiol (BPDN) molecules both in an inert environment and in aqueous electrolyte under potential control, using scanning tunneling microscopy. Current-voltage (IV) data obtained in an inert environment were similar to previously reported results showing conductance switching near 1.6 V. Similar measurements taken in electrolyte under potential control showed a linear dependence of the bias for switching on the electrochemical potential. Extrapolation of the potentials to zero switching bias coincided with the potentials of redox processes on these molecules. Thus switching is caused by a change in the oxidation state of the molecules.     

Study on photochromic diarylethene with phenolic Schiff base: preparation and photochromism of diarylethene with benzoxazole

A photochromic diarylethene with phenolic Schiff base 1a can be easily transformed to photochromic diarylethene with benzoxazole 3a in the conditions of base and phototrigger. Both of their photochromic properties are investigated. They show that the conversions of ring-open form to ring-closed form at photostationary equilibrium are ca. 20% and 10% for 3a and 1a, respectively, and the backconversions are in nearly quantitative yield for both compounds. They also show that the response time for photostationary equilibrium is ca. 0.5 and 5 min for 3a and 1a, respectively, in the solution. In addition, a general preparation of 2-arylbenzoxazole from phenolic Schiff base in the conditions of base and phototrigger is demonstrated by employing phenolic Schiff bases with different substituted groups as template, and other conditions (solvents, in the presence and absence of oxygen) for preparation of benzoxazole from phenolic Schiff base are explored as well.