Syntheses and optoelectronic properties of four photochromic dithienylethenes

Four photochromic dithienylethene compounds, 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-naphthalene-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene 1a, 1,2-bis[2-methyl-5(p-fluorophenyl)-3-thienyl]perfluorocyclopentene 2a, 1,2-bis[2-methyl-5(p-ethoxyphenyl)-3-thienyl]perfluorocyclopentene 3a, and 1,2-bis[2-methyl-5(p-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-3-thienyl]perfluorocyclopentene 4a were synthesized, and their optoelectronic properties, such as photochromism in solution as well as in poly-methylmethacrylate (PMMA) amorphous films, fluorescences and electrochemical properties were investigated in detail. These dithienylethenes have shown good photochromic behavior both in solution and in PMMA amorphous film. All of them exhibited relatively strong fluorescence and gave a bathochromic shift upon increasing concentration in THF. The irreversible anodic oxidation of 1a, 2a and 4a was observed by performing cyclic voltammetry experiments.     

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.     

Crystal engineering of photochromic diarylethene single crystals

Photochromic performance of diarylethene single crystals was controlled by crystal engineering using non-covalent aromatic-aromatic interactions as the directional intermolecular force. A diarylethene derivative with two pentafluorophenyl groups, 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-pentafluorophenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (1a), formed stoichiometric co-crystals with benzene (Bz) and naphthalene (Np) by aryl-perfluoroaryl interactions. Face-to-face pi-stacking interactions between the pentafluorophenyl groups of 1a and the aromatic molecules are responsible for 2:1 and 1:1 stoichiometric compositions in 1a/Bz and 1a/Np co-crystals, respectively. The diarylethene underwent thermally stable and photoreversible photochromic reactions in a homo-crystal of 1a and co-crystals 1a/Bz and 1a/Np. The absorption spectra of the photogenerated closed-ring isomers varied depending on the conformation of the diarylethene molecules packed in the crystals. The diarylethene 1a also formed 1:1 stoichiometric co-crystals with different kinds of diarylethenes, 1,2-bis(2-ethyl-5-phenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (2a) and 1,2-bis[2-methyl-5-(1-naphthyl)-3-thienyl]perfluorocyclopentene (3a). Both co-crystals 1a/2a and 1a/3a showed photochromism. Although 1a, 2a, and 3a underwent efficient photocyclization reactions in their homo-crystals, highly selective photocyclization reactions of 2a or 3a were observed in the co-crystals. The selective reactions were confirmed by HPLC and X-ray crystallography. Excited energy transfers from 1a to 2a and from 1a to 3a are considered to occur and cause the selective reactions.     

Multicolor photochromism of two- and three-component diarylethene crystals

Novel photochromic single crystals composed of three different kinds of diarylethenes, 1,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-2-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (1a), 1,2-bis(2,5-dimethyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (2a), and 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-p-methoxyphenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (3a), have been prepared. The three-component crystals turned yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, green, or black upon irradiation with light of appropriate wavelengths. The colors of the crystals were thermally stable in the dark and completely bleached by irradiation with visible light. Such multicolored photochromic crystals have potential for the application to optoelectronic devices, such as multifrequency three-dimensional optical memory media or full-color displays.     

Development of highly fluorescent photochromic material with high fatigue resistance

Efficient and reversible fluorescence modulation with excellent photo-stability was achieved from a sulfone form of diacetyl diarylethene, 1,2-bis(6-acetyl-2-methyl-1-benzothiophene-1,1-dioxide-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentene (DABTFO4). The DABTFO4 emits strong fluorescence in the closed-ring isomer even in the absence of extra fluorophores. The fluorescence quantum yield, fatigue resistance, and photo-cyclization yield of DABTFO4 were significantly improved compared with the unsubstituted 1,2-bis(2-methyl-1-benzothiophene-1,1-dioxide-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentene (BTFO4) and the sulfide analogue, 1,2-bis(6-acetyl-2-methyl-1-benzothiophene-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentene (DABTF6).     

Three bits eight states photochromic recording and nondestructive readout by using IR light

A photochromic polymer film containing three different diarylethene derivatives, that is, 1,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-2-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (1), 1,2-bis(2,5-dimethyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (2), and 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-phenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (3) was prepared. Upon UV irradiation, the three derivatives changed to their closed-ring isomers having different colors, yellow, red, and blue. They showed different spectra not only in UV/Vis region but also in the IR spectral region. Upon irradiation with visible light of appropriate wavelengths, each closed-ring isomer was selectively bleached, and three bits eight states recording was performed. The eight states could be read out nondestructively by using IR light of appropriate wavenumbers.     

The allomorphism of a photochromic diarylethene

The photochromic diarylethene, 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-(2,2′-dicyanovinyl)-thien-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentene (1a), was synthesized by a novel method. Two kinds of single crystals of the compound were obtained depending on the different recrystallization conditions and their structures were determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Allomorphism of the photochromic diarylethene was discovered. The compound underwent a photochromic reaction both in solution and in the single crystalline phase of the anti-parallel conformer.     

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.     

Fatigue-resistant photochromic dithienylethenes by controlling the oxidation state

High fatigue-resistant photochromic dithienylethenes were synthesized by controlling the oxidation state of 1,2-bis(2-methyl-1-benzothiophene-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentene (BTF6) and 1,2-bis(2,5-dimethylthien-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentene (DMTF6).     

1,2-双[2-甲基-5-(3,4-二氟苯基)噻吩-3-基]全氟环戊烯的合成

在冰浴条件下, 2-甲基噻吩(1)与液溴反应生成3,5-二溴-2-甲基噻吩(2); 在－78 ℃条件下, 硼酸三丁酯加入2, 得到2-甲基-3-溴-5-硼酸基噻吩(3); 3,4-二氟溴苯与3反应得到2-甲基-3-溴-5-(3,4-二氟苯基)噻吩(4); 在－78 ℃下全氟环戊烯与4反应, 得到一种新的二芳基乙烯类光致变色化合物1,2-双[2-甲基-5-(3,4-二氟苯基)噻吩-3-基]全氟环戊烯(DT-1). 用IR, NMR, MS和元素分析确定了化合物DT-1的结构, 并对该化合物的光致变色特性进行了初步研究.     

Photochromic dihetarylethenes

The structures of two hetarylethene photochromes,viz., 1,2-bis(2-ethyl-5-ethylsulfonylthien-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentene and 1,2-bis[5-(benzoxazol-2-yl)-2-methylthien-3-yl]perfluorocyclopentene, were established by X-ray diffraction analysis. The conformational parameters of the title compounds are considered. The cyclopentene ring in the former compound is planar and this ring in the latter compound adopts an envelope conformation. There are no overall conjugated systems in the molecules under study. In both structures, the dihetaryl fragments are rotated with respect to the perfluorocyclopentene fragments by ∼55°. The thiophene and benzoxazole rings in 1,2-bis[5-(benzoxazol-2-yl)-2-methylthien-3-yl]perfluorocyclopentene are coplanar. For Part 3, see Ref. 1. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 74–77, January, 2000.     

Polymorphism of 1,2-Bis(2-methyl-5-p-methoxyphenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene and Photochromic Reactivity of the Single Crystals

Four polymorphic crystals were obtained by recrystallization of 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-p-methoxyphenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (1 a) from hexane. All crystals underwent photochromic reactions upon alternate irradiation with ultraviolet (lambda=370 nm) and visible light (lambda>500 nm). The photocyclization quantum yields were found to be close to unity irrespective of the crystal types, while the photocycloreversion quantum yields were different as much as four times depending on the conformation of the closed-ring isomers in the crystals.     

多波长存储材料的合成与存储实验研究

报道了用有机光致变色的二芳基乙烯化合物作为多波长光存储记录材料的合成、膜片制作和多波长存储实验。结果显示,分别用1,2-双(2,5-二甲基噻吩-3-基)全氟环戊烯、1,2-双(2-甲基-5-醛基噻吩-3-基)全氟环戊烯和1,2-双(2-甲基-5-(2,2-二氰基乙烯基)噻吩-3-基)全氟环戊烯作为多波长光存储的记录材料,采用旋涂法(spin-coating)制成存储膜片,对应的读写激光器的波长分别532、650和780nm,实现了三波长光存储的信息记录和读出。     

Photochromic dihetarylethenes

The structures of two hetarylethene photochromes,viz., 1,2-bis(2-ethyl-5-ethylsulfonylthien-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentene and 1,2-bis[5-(benzoxazol-2-yl)-2-methylthien-3-yl]perfluorocyclopentene, were established by X-ray diffraction analysis. The conformational parameters of the title compounds are considered. The cyclopentene ring in the former compound is planar and this ring in the latter compound adopts an envelope conformation. There are no overall conjugated systems in the molecules under study. In both structures, the dihetaryl fragments are rotated with respect to the perfluorocyclopentene fragments by ∼55°. The thiophene and benzoxazole rings in 1,2-bis[5-(benzoxazol-2-yl)-2-methylthien-3-yl]perfluorocyclopentene are coplanar. For Part 3, see Ref. 1. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 74–77, January, 2000.     

Photochromism of metal complexes composed of diarylethene ligands and Zn(II), Mn(II), and Cu(II) hexafluoroacetylacetonates

Metal complexes composed of 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 and M(hfac)(2) (M = Zn(II), Mn(II), and Cu(II)) were prepared, and their photoinduced coordination structural changes were studied. X-ray crystallographic analyses showed the formation of coordination polymers and discrete 1:2 complexes for bidentate and monodentate ligands, respectively. The complexes underwent reversible photochromic reactions by alternate irradiation with UV and visible lights in solution as well as in the single-crystalline phase. Upon photoirradiation with UV and visible light, the ESR spectra of the copper complexes of 1a reversibly changed. While the open-ring isomer gave an axial-type spectrum, the photogenerated closed-ring isomer showed a rhombic-type spectrum. This indicates that the photoisomerization induced the change in the coordination structure.     

Synthesis of conjugated 2,7-bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)-(phenylethynyl)nfluoren-9-one and 9-(p-methoxyphenyl)-9-methyl derivatives: optical properties

2,7-Substituted 9-fluorenones and 9,9-disubstituted fluorene have been synthesized and their fluorescence properties analyzed. The synthesis of conjugated 2,7-bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)-(phenylethynyl)_nfluoren-9-one (or the 9-(p-methoxyphenyl)-9-methyl) structures was carried out by the heterocoupling reaction between the 2,7-di(halo)fluoren-9-one (or 2,7-dibromo-9-(p-methoxyphenyl)-9-methylfluorene) and p-trimethylsilylethynyl(phenylethynyl)_n (n=1,2), catalyzed by the dichloro bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium and cuprous iodide system, in a divergent synthesis.The π-extended conjugated compounds exhibit fluorescence radiation emission (blue light-emitting), with important quantum yield for the 9-(p-methoxyphenyl)-9-methyl-2,7-bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)-(phenylethynyl)_nfluorenes which increases with the conjugation.     

Highly fluorescent photochromic diarylethene in the closed-ring form

A highly fluorescent diarylethene in the closed-ring form was synthesized by the oxidation of 1,2-bis(2-methyl-1-benzothiophene-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentene (BTF6).     

Synthesis of new functionally substituted hetarylcarbamates from methyl {4-[(2<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-prop-2-enoyl]phenyl}carbamate

Three-component condensation of methyl {4-[(2E)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]phenyl}- carbamate with ninhydrin and L-proline in methanol–water (10: 1) afforded methyl {4-[1,3-dioxo-1′- (4-methoxyphenyl)-1,1′,2′,3,5′,6′,7′,7a′-octahydrospiro[indene-2,3′-pyrrolizin]-2′-ylcarbonyl]phenyl}carbamate. Heating of methyl {4-[(2E)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]phenyl}carbamate with isatin and benzylamine in methanol gave methyl {4-[4′-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-oxo-5′-phenyl-1,2-dihydrospiro[indole-3,2′-pyrrolidin]-3′-ylcarbonyl]phenyl}carbamate. The condensation of methyl {4-[(2E)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2- enoyl]phenyl}carbamate with sarcosine and 11H-indeno[1,2-b]quinoxalin-11-one generated in situ from ninhydrin and o-phenylenediamine in boiling ethanol led to the formation of methyl {4-[4′-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1′-methyl-11,11a-dihydro-5aH-spiro[benzo[b]phenazine-6,2′-pyrrolidin]-3′-ylcarbonyl]phenyl}carbamate.     

Crystal structure-reactivity correlation in single-crystalline photochromism of 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-phenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene

Single-crystalline photochromism of 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-phenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene 1a was followed in situ by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The crystal of 1a has two molecules with different conformations in the crystallographic asymmetric unit. The X-ray analysis of the photoirradiated crystal showed that the photocyclization reaction of the molecule with the shorter distance between the reactive carbons prevails over the reaction of the other molecule. The mechanism has been discussed based on the calculation of the electronic transitions of the two molecules in the different conformations. The photocyclization quantum yield was determined to be 1 (100%) in the crystal.     

Synthesis, structure and fluorescence of a novel diarylethene

The photochromic diarylethene, 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-(2-(1,3-dithiolpentane))-thien-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentene (BMDTP), has been synthesized in high yield and its structure was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The compound undergoes a photochromic reaction both in solution and in the single crystalline phase. In addition, its fluorescence property in solution is discussed.