Substituent effects on the properties of photochromic diarylethenes

Photochromic symmetrical diarylethenes 1o-5o bearing different electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substitutents have been synthesized, and the structures of 1o, 2o, 4o, and 5o were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Substitutent effects on their optoelectronic properties, including photochromism, fluorescence, and electrochemical properties were investigated in detail. The electron-withdrawing substituents can shift significantly the absorption maxima of the diarylethenes to a longer wavelength and increase their cyclization quantum yield, while the molar absorption coefficients increased with an increasing electron-donating ability. Diarylethenes 1, 2, and 4 show good photochromism both in solution and in the single crystalline phase; however, diarylethenes 5 show no photochromism in the crystalline phase because the distance between the reactive carbons become larger than 4.2 Å. Diarylethenes 1-3 exhibited good fluorescent switching upon alternating irradiation with UV and visible light, and their fluorescent conversions in the photostationary state were all larger than 80% in hexane. In addition, cyclic voltammetry tests showed that different electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents had a remarkable effect on the electrochemical behaviors of these diarylethenes.     

The effects of phenyl-bridged glucosyltriazolyl groups on the properties of water-soluble diarylethene derivatives

Three water-soluble diarylethenes with glycosyltriazolyl groups and variable phenyl units have been synthesized, and their properties, such as water solubility, photochromism, and fluorescence have been discussed. Upon alternating irradiation with UV and visible light, each of the diarylethenes exhibited favorable photochromism and functioned as fluorescent switches in water. Experimental results showed that their water solubility as well as absorption features, cyclization quantum yields, photoconversion ratios, thermal stability, and fatigue resistance exhibited a strong correlation with the number of phenyl-bridged glucosyltriazolyl groups in diarylethene systems. The absorption maximum, thermal stability, and fatigue resistance were significantly improved, but the water solubility and fluorescent modulation efficiency were suppressed with the increase of the number of phenyl-bridged glucosyltriazolyl groups for these diarylethene derivatives.     

Efficient synthesis and properties of isomeric photochromic diarylethenes having a pyrrole unit

Two new isomeric photochromic diarylethenes with a pyrrole unit have been developed. Their properties, including photochromic behavior, crystal structures, and fluorescent properties, have been investigated. The two isomeric compounds show distinctly different photochromism, both in solution and in the single-crystalline phase: one turns red upon photocyclization whereas the other turns blue, which may be attributed to the different substituent effects.     

Characterization of A New Organic Photochromic Compound

A new organic photochromic compound, 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-(4-fluoro)-benzal-5-pyrazolone ethanyl-thiosemicarbazone (PM4FBP-ETSC) was found to undergo photochromic reactions in the solid state. Upon irradiation with 365nm light the white powder sample turned light yellow. The photochromic properties were characterized by the time-dependent UV-vis reflective spectra. The structure of PM4FBP-ETSC was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Polymorphism-dependent fluorescence of 9,10-bis(pentafluorobenzoyloxy)anthracene

Anthracene derivatives possessing pentafluorobenzoyloxy moieties at 9- and 10-positions showed polymorphism affording two types of fluorescent crystals with blue and bluish green fluorescence in their crystalline state, respectively. Their single crystal X-ray structures showed that the degree of overlap of anthracene moieties was responsible for the difference in fluorescence. Fluorescence in the crystalline state originated in the dimer emission deduced from their excitation spectra.     

Solid Supramolecular Architecture of a Perylene Diimide Derivative for Fluorescent Enhancement

A new p‐phenylenevinylene‐linked perylene diimide has been synthesized and self‐assembled for the formation of zero‐dimensional molecular aggregate structures of nanospheres and vesicles through solvent tuning. The solid‐state optical properties induced by a special wavelength laser were studied and the results indicated excellent fluorescent enhancement properties. The emission intensity of these aggregates increased with elongation of the laser irradiation time. Based on the analysis of variable‐temperature ¹H NMR spectra, DFT calculations, and the single‐crystal structure of the linkage group, a conformation‐dependent fluorescent enhancement mechanism could be demonstrated. The mechanism is different from the fluorescent bleaching of normal solid‐state fluorescent materials and offers potential applications in optical devices.     

Photochromism of mixed crystals containing bisthienyl-, bisthiazolyl-, and bisoxazolylethene derivatives

Single crystals composed of two or three different kinds of diarylethenes, having similar geometrical structures but different colors in the closed-ring isomers, 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-phenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (1a), 1,2-bis(5-methyl-2-phenyl- 4-thiazolyl)perfluorocyclopentene (2a), and 1,2-bis(5-methyl-2-phenyl-4-oxazolyl)perfluorocyclopentene (3a) have been prepared in an attempt to form single crystals which exhibit different colors, depending on illumination wavelengths. When 1a and 2a are mixed in ethanol and the content of 2a in the feed is higher than that of 1a, only a needle-shaped crystal is obtained. The crystal shape is similar to that of 2a. On the other hand, high content of 1a in the feed leads to formation of a block-shaped crystal, of which the shape is similar to that of 1a. At a feed ratio of 1:1 for 1a and 2a, two types of crystals such as needle- and block-shapes are obtained from the same batch. Mixed crystals composed of three kinds of derivatives 1a/2a/3a have also been prepared. A crystal composed of the three derivatives in the molar ratio of 32 (1a):53 (2a):15 (3a) was obtained. X-ray analysis proved that 1a and 3a are packed in the crystal lattice of 2a. The mixed crystal 1a/2a/3a changed color from colorless to yellow, red, and blue upon irradiation with light of appropriate wavelengths.     

Photosalient Effect of Diarylethene Crystals of Thiazoyl and Thienyl Derivatives

The photoresponse of diarylethene crystals is found to depend on the intensity of UV light, that is, photoinduced bending is switched to photosalient phenomena by increasing the light intensity. The change in the size of the crystal unit cell upon UV irradiation is larger for asymmetric diarylethenes with thiazole and thiophene rings than that for the corresponding symmetric diarylethenes. As a result, the crystals of an asymmetric diarylethene show much more drastic photosalient effects than those of the corresponding symmetric diarylethene crystals upon UV irradiation. It is also found that the crystals of diarylethene, which have not previously been reported to exhibit a photosalient effect, show photosalient phenomena upon irradiation with strong UV light. Furthermore, the dependence of photosalient phenomena on the size and shape of the crystals is reported.     

X-ray diffraction analysis of photochromic reaction of fulgides: crystalline state reaction induced by two-photon excitation

Although most fulgides show their photochromism in the solid state, crystal structure changes accompanying the photochromism have not been previously observed. The photochromic reactions have been so far considered to take place on surfaces or at defects of the crystals or to proceed with destruction of the crystals. In this study we have succeeded in observing crystal structure changes accompanying the photochromism of fulgides using X-ray diffraction analysis. Detection of the photoproducts in the crystal structures was not possible when the single crystals of the fulgides were irradiated with steady UV light. Two-photon excitation by pulsed laser light was essential to produce a sufficient amount of the photoproducts without significant deterioration in the quality of the crystals.     

Rationally Designed Axially Chiral Diarylethene Switches with High Helical Twisting Power

Three rationally designed axially chiral diarylethene switches were synthesized and their application as chiral dopants for phototunable cholesteric liquid crystal devices was investigated. Design of these molecules was based on the combination of photochromic dithienylcyclopentene core with bridged binaphthyl units as chiral precursors. Aromatic groups were introduced to the molecules at 6,6′‐positions of binaphthyls through a Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction. Their helical twisting powers (HTPs) are significantly higher than those of the known chiral diarylethenes reported as chiral dopants so far. Photocyclization of these molecules upon light irradiation brought out dramatic variation in HTPs between different states. The primary colors, red, green, and blue, were obtained in reflection on light irradiation and with thermal stability. Moreover, a multi‐switchable photodisplay was demonstrated using one of these chiral molecular switches.     

Photochromism of metal complexes composed of diarylethene ligands and ZnCl2

Metal complexes composed of ZnCl(2) and bidentate 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-(4-pyridyl)-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (1a) and monodentate 1-(2-methyl-5-phenyl-3-thienyl)-2-(2-methyl-5-(4-pyridyl)-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (2a) photochromic ligands were prepared. X-ray crystallographic analyses showed the formation of a coordination polymer and a discrete 2:1 complex for 1a.ZnCl(2) and 2a(2).ZnCl(2), respectively. While the 2a(2).ZnCl(2) crystal underwent photochromic reaction in the crystalline state by alternate irradiation with UV and visible light, the 1a.ZnCl(2) crystal did not show any photoreactivity. The difference in the photochromic behavior was explained by the difference in the conformation of the diarylethenes in the crystals.     

Synthesis and Properties of Photochromic Diarylethenes Bearing Thiazole Moiety

Four new diarylethene derivatives based on thiophene or thiazole moieties were designed and synthesized, and the structures of compounds 4a and 5a were determined by single‐X‐ray diffraction analysis. All of these compounds showed reversible photochromic reactions and notable fluorescence photo‐switches in solution. Furthermore, diarylethenes 4a and 5a also showed good photochromism in single crystal phase. The electron‐donating and electron‐withdrawing substituents play the same role in the photochromic process: red‐shifted absorption and fluorescence ( 1a and 2a compared with 3a ). The fluorescent modulation efficiencies of asymmetrical diarylethenes 4 and 5 were significantly enhanced compared with the similar dithienylethenes, and the fatigue resistance of 5 was much better than 4 , which showed that the diarylethene bearing electron‐withdrawing group could improve its fatigue resistance.     

First structural characterization of guanidine, HN=C(NH(2))(2)

Structural information about the free base guanidine in the solid state could be obtained for the first time by determining the crystal structures of the 1:1 as well as the 2:1 co-crystals consisting of neutral guanidine and 2-amino-4,6-dimethyl-1,3,5-triazine using single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Photochromism of two novel protoncontrollable isomeric diarylethenes with a pyridine moiety: substituent effects on their properties

Two novel hybrid isomeric diarylethenes with pyridine and pyrrole units have been synthesized by a parallel reaction, and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. They exhibited distinctly different photochromic behavior and fluorescent properties upon photoirradiation due to the different substituent effects. In the crystalline phase, one is photoactive with an anti-parallel conformation, while the other is non-photoactive with a parallel conformation. Moreover, the closed-ring isomers showed different acidichromism in dichloromethane. The absorption maxima of one showed extraordinarily large red shifts of 120 nm, whereas that of the other exhibited extraordinarily large blue shifts of 194 nm.     

Unsymmetrical diarylethenes as molecular keypad locks with tunable photochromism and fluorescence via Cu2+ and CN- coordinations

New unsymmetrical diarylethenes were synthesized and their photochromic and fluorescent properties are tailored by Cu(2+) and CN(-) coordinations. A novel molecular logic keypad lock is constructed based on the fluorescence emission changes by the inputs of UV/visible irradiation, Cu(2+) and CN(-).     

Copper(II) cyclam-based complexes for radiopharmaceutical applications: synthesis and structural analysis

Two molecular structures of the copper(II) complex, Cu(H(2)TETA), have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The Jahn-Teller distortion differs between the two structures; occurring either along the axis of the pendant acetate arms or across the macrocyclic ring. An analysis of deposited data from over one hundred copper(II) cyclam X-ray structures in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) reveals that Jahn-Teller distortion across the ring is highly unusual for such compounds in the solid state. Novel chelators based on the piperazino/side-bridged cyclam have been prepared and copper(II) complexes formed. The single crystal X-ray structures of two copper(II) complexes, with either an ester or acid N-pendant arm, have been determined and in both cases the pendant arm is bound to the metal centre.     

Efficient One‐step Synthesis and Properties of Photochromic Diarylethenes Having an Indene Bridging Unit

Two novel isomeric photochromic diarylethenes with an indene bridging unit have been prepared by a simple and efficient one‐step synthesis method. Their properties, including photochromic behavior, fluorescent properties and fatigue resistance, have been investigated. These two isomeric compounds showed photochromic back‐and‐forth reactions with ultraviolet and visible light both in solution and in PMMA film. Their ring‐open forms exhibited appreciable fluorescence, which was quenched by the ring‐closed forms. All results indicated that diarylethenes derivatives with indene‐aryl bridges exhibited rather high fatigue resistance and good thermally irreversible photochromic properties.     

Correlation of crystal parameters with vibrational data of tetramethylammonium fluorocompounds

Examination of the solid state infrared spectra of the tetramethylammonium cation in ten salts shows correlation of infrared spectral properties with C-H…X hydrogen bonding and crystal habits in these tetramethylammonium salts. In this research a number of complexes of tetramethylammonium cation have been synthesized and the structures of five of them have been analyzed by X-ray single crystal diffraction. The IR predicted crystal habits are comprised by XRD data. The C-H stretching region characteristic hydrogen bonding shifts in the above salts. A good relation between two data has been found.     

Piezofluorochromic and Aggregation‐Induced‐Emission Compounds Containing Triphenylethylene and Tetraphenylethylene Moieties

New fluorescent compounds containing triphenylethylene and tetraphenylethylene moieties were synthesized, and their piezofluorochromic and aggregation‐induced emission behaviors were investigated. The results show that all compounds exhibit aggregation‐induced emission characteristics and only the crystalline compound possesses piezofluorochromic properties. The color, emission spectra, and morphological structures of the one piezofluorochromic compound exhibit reversibility upon grinding and annealing (or fuming) treatments. The piezofluorochromic behaviors are caused by a change between different modes of solid state molecular packing under external pressure. The single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis reveals that the twisted conformation of the aggregation‐induced emission compound leads to the formation of metastable crystal lattice with cavity which is readily destroyed under external pressure. A possible mechanism of piezofluorochromic phenomenon has been proposed.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Cobalt-Cage Complexes with Pendant Phenol Groups

The synthesis and characterization of four compounds formed from the reductive amination of m- and o-hydroxybenzaldehyde to (1,8-diamino-3,6,10,13,16,19-hexaazabicyclo[6.6.6]eicosane)cobalt(III) are presented. These compounds are the mono- and dialkylated derivatives of the starting cobalt complex. The X-ray crystal structures of each compound, as its fully protonated chloride salt, have been obtained and are reported. The pK(a)'s of the compounds were determined by nonlinear least-squares analysis of data from potentiometric titrations and UV/vis spectrophotometry. The K(a)'s of the phenol groups of the compounds are reduced by roughly 1 order of magnitude compared to their analogous organic phenols. In the solid state, the compounds with one pendant phenol group (2, 4) are yellow and adopt the ob(3) conformation of their ethylene diamine rings in their crystal structures, while the compounds with two pendant phenol groups (3, 5) are orange and have the lel(3) conformation in their crystal structures. Solid-state reflectance UV/vis spectroscopy confirms these structural differences. In water, all four compounds form orange solutions and adopt the lel(3) conformation, as indicated by comparison of UV/vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry properties with the literature.