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.     

Photoswitched DNA-binding of a photochromic spiropyran

The dramatically different DNA-binding properties of the two isomeric forms of a photochromic spiropyran have been demonstrated, enabling photoswitched DNA binding. The closed, UV-absorbing form shows no signs of interaction with DNA. Upon UV exposure the spiropyran is isomerized to the open form that binds to DNA by intercalation. The process is fully reversible as the corresponding dissociation process is induced by visible light.     

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.     

Photochromic and luminescence properties of isomeric forms of the hydronaphthyl radicals

The optical properties of the hydronaphthyl radicals produced upon radiolysis and photolysis of rigid naphthalene solutions in boric acid at 300 K and alcohol, ether and methylcyclohexane at 77 K were investigated. The ESR, absorption and luminescence spectra of the two different isomeric forms of hydronaphthyl radicals have been observed. The estimated values of the lowest electronic transition in α- and β-hydronaphthyl radicals are, respectively: E_α = 2.42 ± 0.03 eV, E_β = 2.66 ± 0.05 eV. It has been found that a reversible photo-induced interconversion between two hydroradicals takes place as well as a dark conversion from the β- to the α-isomer. Analogous photochromic behaviour of the absorption bands of biphenyl, phenanthrene, chrysene and fluorene rigid solutions have also been identified as reversible interconversion between isomeric hydroradicals.     

Sweet switches: azobenzene glycoconjugates synthesized by click chemistry

Azobenzene glycoconjugates can be switched between two isomeric states, E and Z, to change the spatial orientation of the conjugated carbohydrate ligands. Mono-, di- and trivalent azobenzene glycoconjugates were synthesized using click chemistry and their photochromic properties determined. Multivalency effects were observed in photoisomerisation.     

Photochromism of tetrahydroindolizines. Part XIV: synthesis of cis-fixed conjugated photochromic pyridazinopyrrolo[1,2-b]isoquinolines incorporating carbon-rich linkers

New carbon-rich photochromic tetrahydroindolizines (THIs) bearing dihydroisoquinoline derivatives as heterocyclic bases (region B) have been synthesized via different chemical and photochemical pathways. Three alternative pathways for the synthesis of the target photochromic THI-based pyridazinopyrrolo[1,2-b]isoquinolines via in situ trapping with hydrazine hydrate have been established. In order to obtain high product yields, different Sonogashira-mediated coupling reactions have been optimized. Low temperature multichannel UV–vis and flash photolysis techniques were used to detect the photochromic and kinetic properties of the synthesized system.     

Synthesis, crystal structures, and photochromic properties of 6,6′ or 7,7′ or 6,7′-dimethyl-[2,2′-bi-1H-indene]-3,3′-diethyl-3,3′-dihydroxy-1,1′-diones

New photochromic title compounds 1, 2, and 3 have been prepared starting from 4-methylphthalic anhydride. Compounds 3a and 3b are a pair of enantiomers and were obtained as a racemic mixture (numbered as 3). Compounds 1, 2, and 3 were successfully separated from the isomeric mixture product through fractional crystallization, and their structures are confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. UV-vis absorption and photochromic properties of 1, 2, and 3 have also been investigated. Results reveal that the substituents, even like the simple methyl, on the benzene rings of biindenylidenedione could considerably affect the photochromic property, as well as other properties of this kind of compounds.     

Tunable Photochromism in the Robust Dithienylethene‐Containing Phospholes: Design,Synthesis, Characterization,Electrochemistry, Photophysics,and Photochromic Studies

A series of dithienylethene‐containing phosphole derivatives has been designed, synthesized and characterized. One of the compounds has been characterized by X‐ray crystallography. Upon photoexcitation, the compounds exhibit drastic color changes, ascribed to the reversible photochromic behavior. Their photochromic, photophysical and electrochemical properties have been studied. They show photochromic reactivities with high photocyclization quantum yields. Their photophysical and photochromic properties are found to be facilely tuned in this system by substitution at the phosphole backbone, as well as variation on the extent of π‐conjugation of the phosphole backbone. Some selected compounds have been demonstrated to exhibit photochromic properties in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) films.     

Novel oxazabicycles as a new class of photochromic colorants

A new photochromic colorant with an oxazabicyclic moiety has been synthesized by an efficient method. It turns pale red upon UV irradiation and undergoes reverse reaction while being heated. This work may open an exciting new avenue for future development of the photochromic dyes with novel molecular structures.     

Photochromic fulgides and spirooxazines: mechanism and substituent effect on photoreactions

Molecular design, synthesis and photochromic properties of spirooxazines and fulgides are described. In the case of fulgides, the change of the substituents may lead to different photochromic properties and different photoreactions of the kind of compounds. In photochromic process of pyrryl-substituted fulgides, the excited singlet state is the mam species, but the excited triplet state is also involved. However, no excited triplet state has been observed in cyclization of aryl-substituted fulgides. In the case of spirooxazines, the substituents at 2'-position have great effect on the formation of photoproduct and on the mechanism of photoreaction. The increase of steric hindrance of the 2'-position substituent gives rise to the decrease of the quantum yield for the formation of photochromic merocyanine (PMC) and the increase of the relative quantum yield for the charge separated twist intermediate (CT).     

Light‐Controlled Release and Uptake of Zinc Ions in Solution by a Photochromic Terthiazole‐Based Ligand

We have synthesized and fully characterized a photochromic zinc complex with a terphenylthiazole‐based ligand with a salen‐like cavity. The solution stability of the complex was found to be greatly dependent on the state of the photochromic ligand and an interesting photo‐triggered release and uptake of zinc ions was found as well as monitored by its fluorescence. The contrasting stability difference of the zinc complex between its two isomeric states was rationalized by DFT calculations.     

Novel photochromic macrocycles composed of thiophene and ethylene building blocks: synthesis, structure, and photochromic property

Two novel photochromic macrocycles composed of thiophene and ethylene building blocks have been synthesized, and their crystal structure and photochromic properties are described. Macrocycle 2 shows good photochromic properties.     

Recent progress of luminescent metal complexes with photochromic units

Photo-responsive molecules have been studied extensively because of their light irradiation abilities that enable modulation of certain physical and chemical properties in emerging molecular electronic and photonic devices. For advanced photonic applications, photochromic metal complexes that have photochromic units as the photo-responsive ligand are highly desirable, as they allow improvement of the photochromic properties and their photo-switching functionality. This article focuses on recent progress in luminescent metal complexes with photochromic units. Luminescence-switching properties of photochromic metal complexes depend on characteristic electronic transitions. The electronic transitions of photochromic metal complexes can be divided into three categories: (1) π–π* transition of the ligand, (2) metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) in transition-metal complex, and (3) f–f transition in lanthanide complex. Luminescence modulation using various metal complexes with photochromic units has been studied extensively in recent years, and various applications for future molecular switching devices are expected in the field of advanced photonics. Based on the literature and our studies on luminescent metal complexes with photochromic units, we report on the recent progress of luminescent metal complexes with photochromic units.     

Photochromic fused-naphthopyrans without residual color

A series of new photochromic fused-naphthopyrans with an alkyl bridge between the pyran ring and the naphthalenic core was synthesized in several steps from 4-(bromomethyl)benzocoumarin. The presence of the alkyl bridge in these new fused-naphthopyrans prevents the formation of one long-lived photoisomer and therefore has a dramatic effect on their photochromic properties: UV irradiation of common naphthopyrans gives rise to two isomeric colored photoisomers, one of which fades very slowly and is responsible for a persistent residual color. UV excitation of these new uncolored fused-naphthopyrans leads to the formation of only one colored photoisomer that fades completely to the uncolored state in few seconds/minutes following a monoexponential decay law, thus avoiding the problem of the residual coloration typically observed with naphthopyrans.     

A polarity dependent fluorescence "switch" in live cells

The spectroscopic properties, ultrafast kinetics and utilization of a photochromic molecule as a bi-stable fluorescing sensor of polarity in live cells are described. This molecule is a photochromic fulgimide, 2,3-dialkylidenesuccinimide, which emits fluorescence that can be switched optically on and off. The fluorescence intensity is a function of the polarity of the molecular environment, namely it fluoresces strongly when the molecule is in its polar isomeric structure form. We demonstrate that this molecule enters live cells without inducing damage, it binds primarily to internal membranous organelles (mitochondria) and its fluorescence can be switched optically "on" and "off" repeatedly while inside the living cell. A possible use as a bi-stable, on/off sensor is discussed.     

Synthesis and Photochromic Properties of Azido Analogues ofSpiropyran and Spirooxazine as Nucleic Acid Labeling Reagent

A series of photo active azido analogues have been synthesized and their photochromic properties have also been investigated by UV-Vis spectrum. It will be used for the rapid and reliable preparation of large amounts of stable, non-radioactive labeled DNA and RNA hybridization probes. And it is supposed to be easily detected for its photochromic properties.     

Synthesis, characterization and photochromic studies of spirooxazine-containing 2,2'-bipyridine ligands and their rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes

A series of spirooxazine-containing 2,2'-bipyridine ligands and their rhenium(i) tricarbonyl complexes has been designed and synthesized, and their photophysical, photochromic and electrochemical properties have been studied. The X-ray crystal structures of two of the complexes have been determined. Detailed studies showed that the emission properties of the complexes could readily be switched through photochromic reactions.     

Recent progresses on diarylethene based photochromic switches

Organic photochromic materials have received considerable attention because of their potential for photonic applications, especially for fast and high density data storage. In 2000, Chemical Reviews published a special issue on photochromic materials including a review about the properties and applications of diarylethene photochromic compounds. Since then much impressive progress has been made in this area. Various new diarylethene derivatives have been prepared and examined. The tutorial review presented herein describes developments in diarylethene-based molecular switches made in the last three years. In addition, the synthetic aspects of diarylethene photochromic compounds, which are important issues and neglected in most previous reviews, have been included.     

光致变色全氟环戊烯类二芳烯化合物的合成及其性质研究

合成了两种新的二芳基乙烯类光致变色化合物1,2 双(2 甲基5 (4 乙氧基苯基)噻吩3 基)全氟环戊烯(1a)和1,2 双(2 甲基5 (对氟苯基)噻吩3 基)全氟环戊烯(2a),并且研究了其在不同溶剂和浓度中的UV Vis光谱、荧光性质和光致变色反应动力学特征.实验结果表明,化合物1a和2a具有良好的光致变色性质和较强的荧光;光致变色闭环反应为零级反应,开环反应为一级反应.     

Photochromism of new unsymmetrical isomeric diarylethenes bearing a pyridine group

A new class of unsymmetrical isomeric diarylethenes bearing a terminal pyridine group was synthesized and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The effects of the nitrogen atom position in the pyridine group on their properties including photochromism, acidchromism, and fluorescence were investigated systematically. Among the three isomeric derivatives, the cyclization quantum yield and the absorption maxima of the ortho-substituted diarylethene were the biggest, while the fluorescence quantum yield of the para-substituted diarylethene was the biggest. Furthermore, the three isomeric diarylethenes exhibited multi-addressable switching behaviors by the stimulation of acid/base and light. Addition of trifluoroacetic acid to solutions of these diarylethenes produced the protonated derivatives, which also showed excellent photochromic behaviors, but only the para-substituted diarylethene exhibited a notable color change of solution from crimson to violet. The results revealed that the effects of the nitrogen atom position in the terminal pyridine group played a very important role during the process of photoisomerization for these isomeric diarylethene derivatives.