Synthesis of Redox-Active Photochromic Phenanthrene Derivatives

A phenanthrene unit has been functionalized by several methylthiophene units in order to bring it a photochromic behavior. These compounds were characterized by NMR, absorption and emission spectroscopies, theoretical calculations as well as cyclic voltammetry. The association of a phenanthrene group with a photochromic center could open the door to a new generation of organic field-effect transistors.     

Non-Oxido-Vanadium(IV) Metalloradical Complexes with Bidentate 1,2-Dithienylethene Ligands: Observation of Reversible Cyclization of the Ligand Scaffold in Solution

Derivatives of 1,2-dithienylethene (DTE) have superb photochromic properties due to an efficient reversible photocyclization reaction of their hexatriene structure and, thus, have application potential in materials for optoelectronics and (multi-responsive) molecular switches. Transition-metal complexes bearing switchable DTE motifs commonly incorporate their coordination site rather distant from the hexatriene system. In this work the redox active ligand 1,2-bis(2,5-dimethylthiophen-3-yl)ethane-1,2-dione is described, which reacts with [V(TMEDA)₂Cl₂] to give a rare non-oxido vanadium(IV) species 3(M,M/P,P) . This blue complex has two bidentate en-diolato ligands which chelate the V^IV center and give rise to two five-membered metallacycles with the adjacent hexatriene DTE backbone bearing axial chirality. Upon irradiation with UVA light or prolonged heating in solution, the blue compound 3(M,M/P,P) converts into the purple atropisomer 4(para,M/para,P) . Both complexes were isolated and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis (using lab source and synchrotron radiation). The antiparallel configuration (M or P helicity) present in both 3(M,M/P,P) and 4(para,M/para,P) is a prerequisite for (reversible) 6π cyclization reactions. A CW EPR spectroscopic study reveals the metalloradical character for 3(M,M/P,P) and 4(para,M/para,P) and indicates dynamic reversible cyclization of the DTE backbone in complex 3(M,M/P,P) at ambient temperature in solution.     

卟啉-二芳基乙烯分子的合成及其无损读取性能

二噻吩乙烯是一类性能优良的有机光致变色化合物,在信息储存领域具有广阔的应用前景,本文以2-甲基噻吩、苯甲醛和吡咯为原料,经过多步反应合成了1-(2-甲基-3-噻吩基)-2-{2-甲基-5-{4-[4-(10,15,20-三苯基-5-卟啉基)苯基]氨基羰基苯基}-3-噻吩基}环戊烯(DTE-TPP),其结构经核磁共振波谱仪(NMR)、质谱(MS)和傅里叶变换红外光谱仪(FTIR)表征确认,通过紫外-可见光谱研究了化合物的光致变色性能、抗疲劳性,并辅以荧光光谱探究了化合物的无损读取功能。结果表明,该化合物在254和660 nm的光照射下,发生可逆的光致变色反应,重复光照8次后其紫外-可见光谱与初始谱图相比无明显差异,显示出良好的抗疲劳性;当激发光为520 nm时,开、闭环异构体有较高的荧光对比度,有望实现数据的无损读取。     

一个闭环二噻吩乙烯及其Ag(Ⅰ)配合物的合成、结构和光致变色性质

首次合成了一个含氰基二噻吩乙烯闭环体化合物(L_c),用IR、¹H NMR及X射线单晶衍射研究其结构,表明它是一对R,R和S,S对映异构体组成的消旋混合物,证实了光化学顺旋环化反应中己三烯结构转变为环己二烯结构。紫外可见光谱研究表明其在THF溶液和固相均具有可逆的光致变色性质,可见区最大吸收波长为607 nm。光异构化动力学研究表明开环反应为一级反应,而闭环反应为0级反应。将其进一步用作配体与Ag(CF₃SO₃)自组装合成了配合物1,并用元素分析、IR、¹H NMR及电喷雾质谱进行结构表征。1在固相具有可逆的光致变色性质,但与开环配体组装的配合物不同,由于刚性的闭环配体结构限制了2个噻吩环的自由旋转,银离子与闭环配体配位未能修饰配体的吸收波长,1的可见区最大吸收波长与配体相同。与闭环配体相比,1的光异构化反应速度更快,这和循环伏安法测得其具有比配体更小的带隙结果一致。     

Novel photoswitching dithienylethenes with ferrocene units

Two novel dithienylethenes with ferrocene units were synthesized by Wittig reaction. The structure of 2a has been established by X‐ray diffraction studies. They could reversibly interconvert between two thermally stable forms, an open and a closed one, using light of different wavelengths as triggers. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Syntheses and photochromic studies of dithienylethene-containing imidazolium derivatives and their reactivity towards nucleophiles

A series of dithienylethene-containing imidazolium salts with various substituents on the 2-position of the imidazolium ring has been synthesized. The photochromic properties of these compounds have been studied, and the closed forms are found to be solvatochromic due to the donor-acceptor interaction with the solvent molecules. The closed form of the imidazolium salt shows a much higher affinity towards nucleophiles over the open form of the salt. A reaction pathway has been proposed to account for this reactivity difference based on the structure-property relationship, and the possible structure of the reaction product is discussed.     

Amphiphilic Diblock Copolymer with Dithienylethene Pendants: Synthesis and Photo‐Modulated Self‐Assembly

In this work, an amphiphilic diblock copolymer (PEG₄₃‐b‐PSDTE₂₉) bearing photochromic dithienylethene (DTE) pendants is synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer radical polymerization. The diblock copolymer was characterized by spectroscopic methods and gel permeation chromatography. The analyses proved the well‐defined structure and narrow molecular weight distribution of the diblock copolymer. The DTE pendants could undergo reversible photoisomerization between their open and closed forms in solution when irradiated with UV and visible light as indicated by ¹H NMR and UV‐vis spectroscopy. Hollow vesicle‐like structures were formed by gradually adding deionized water to the colorless PEG₄₃‐b‐PSDTE_29open (DTE in open form) tetrahydrofuran solution. Under the same conditions, the aggregates formed in the blue PEG₄₃‐b‐PSDTE_29close (DTE in closed form) solution were colloidal spheres with solid interiors. The isomerization of DTE pendants could cause the deformation of the vesicle‐like structures. The above results demonstrate a kind of novel photo‐modulated self‐assembly behavior of the amphiphilic diblock copolymer, which could be used for drug‐delivery and other applications.

     

Photoisomerization of PtII Complexes Containing Two Different Photochromic Chromophores: Boron Chromophore versus Dithienylethene Chromophore

In order to examine competitive photoisomerization, a series of novel photochromic Pt^II molecules that contain both dithienylethene (DTE) and B(ppy)Mes₂ units (ppy=2-phenylpyridine, Mes=mesityl) were successfully synthesized and fully structurally characterized. Their photochromic properties were examined by UV/Vis, emission and NMR spectroscopy. It was found that the DTE unit in all three compounds is the preferred photoisomerization site, exhibiting reversible photochromism with irradiation. The B(ppy)Mes₂ unit does not undergo photoisomerization in these molecules, but likely enhances the photoisomerization quantum efficiency of the DTE moiety through the antenna effect. Extended irradiation with UV light leads to the rearrangement of the ring-closed isomers of DTE. TD-DFT computational studies indicate that the DTE photocyclization proceeds via a triplet pathway through an efficient energy transfer process.     

Catalytic Light-Triggered Reduction Promoted by a Dithienylethene Derivative

A pyridinium substituted dithienylethene derivative was used for the first time as an efficient photoreducing agent of two different substrates. This reaction exhibits high catalytic yields due to the continuous regeneration of the initial state of the photochromic molecule.     

Photochromic Dithienylethene‐Containing Triarylborane Derivatives: Facile Approach to Modulate Photochromic Properties with Multi‐addressable Functions

A series of dithienylethene‐containing triarylboranes has been designed, synthesized, and characterized. The electrochemistry, photophysics, and photochromic behavior have also been studied. The photophysical and photochromic properties could be facilely tuned in this system by varying the thiophene spacers (thiophene, thienothiophene, and bithiophene) between the dithienylethene and the dimesitylboron (BMes₂) or the position of the BMes₂ substitution in the thiophene spacers. The absorption of closed form has been found to be more sensitive towards the structural modification upon incorporation of the BMes₂ unit. Moreover, multi‐addressable photochromic reactivity is obtained upon addition of Lewis base (F^?), which is due to the formation of boron–Lewis base adduct. The dependence of the photophysical and photochromic properties on the thiophene spacers and the position of the BMes₂ substitution has been further supported by computational studies.