Photo switchable pendant furyl and thienyl fulgimides containing polypyrroles

We report the new pendant furyl and thienyl fulgimides photochromic switch bearing polypyrroles. The functionalized pyrrole monomers synthesized and structures are ascertained by NMR and mass spectral techniques. The yield of fulgides and fulgimides are improved by using trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFA) as a dehydrating agent. The photo-switching properties of fulgimides monomers are explained by electronic structures of HOMO–LUMO of the monomers using Gaussian 03 packages. The electro-active polymer films deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes are characterized by cyclic voltammetry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The electrochemically formed thin films undergoes photo-switching between open and closed state of fulgimides moiety. The photo-switching properties of the polymer films have been confirmed by UV/vis spectroscopy. Though the films are photochemically stable, their mechanical stability with respect to adhesion to electrode is found to be sensitive to the solvent and electrode material.