Synthesis of silsesquioxanes having photochromic diarylethene pendant groups

Silsesquioxanes having 1-(2-methylbenzob]thien-3-yl)-2-5-(4-butylphenyl)-2,4-dimethylthien-3-yl]perfluorocyclopentenes as the pendant groups were synthesized. Photochemical conversion from the open-ring to the closed-ring form of diarylethenes chemically bonded to polymers was by 15–25% lower than the conversion of the chromophores dispersed in the same matrix. No appreciable difference in the photoconversion of the fixed chromophores was observed below and above the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the polymer films.