1,2‐Bis[5‐(1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐yl)‐2‐ethyl‐3‐thien­yl]‐3,3,4,4,5,5‐hexa­fluoro­cyclo­pent‐1‐ene,a photochromic dithienylethene

The title compound, C₂₃H₂₂F₆O₄S₂, a photochromic dithienyl­ethene, is a promising material for optical storage and other optoelectrical devices. The mol­ecule adopts a photoactive antiparallel conformation in the crystalline state. The distance between the two reactive C atoms which are involved in potential ring closure is 3.829 (4) Å. The dihedral angles between the central cyclo­pentene ring and the adjacent thio­phene rings are 55.38 (7) and 54.81 (9)°. The colourless crystals turn magenta when exposed to UV radiation and the process is reversible.