Photochromic dihetarylethenes

A series of new photochromic compounds were obtained for the first time from 1,2-bis(2-ethylthio-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene by substituting bromine atoms or carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, and carbamoyl groups for hydrogen atoms in positions 4 and 4′. Introduction of these substituents causes a slight bathochromic shift (by 20–30 nm) of a long-wavelength absorption band for the cyclic form and significantly increases the quantum yields of photocyclization Ф_A→B and ring opening Ф_B→A. Depending on the nature of a substituent, Ф_A→B decreases in the order COOH>COOMe>CONHAr. The quantum yields are markedly reduced when the ethylthio groups in positions 5 and 5′ are replaced by ethylsulfonyl groups (a tenfold reduction in Ф_A→B and a four- to fivefold reduction in Ф_B→A) The most considerable bathochromic shift of a long-wavelength band and the highest quantum yields of forward and reverse photoreactions were observed for 1,2-bis(4-bromo-2-ethylthio-3-thienyl) perfluorocyclopentene. 1,2- Bis (2-ethyl-5-ethylthio-4-methoxycarbonyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene was structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis.