Effect of imino nitroxyl and nitronyl nitroxyl groups on the photochromic reactivity of diarylethenes

Diarylethene derivatives having imino nitroxide and nitronyl nitroxide have been prepared to examine the effect of the radical substituents on the photochromic reactivity of 1,2-bis(2-methyl-1-benzothiophen-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentene. These radical substituents reduce the quantum yields of both cyclization and cycloreversion reactions. The nitronyl nitroxyl moiety is more effective to suppress the reactivity in comparison with the imino nitroxide moiety. [reaction: see text]