Efficient Synthesis, Photochromism and Electrochemical Properties of a Novel 2,3-position Hybrid Diarylethene

A novel 2,3-position hybrid diarylethene, 1-(2-methyl-5-phenyl -3-thienyl) -2-(3-methyl-5-phenyl-2-thienyl) perfluorocyclopentene (1 a), was synthesized, and its photochromic reactivity, fluorescent and electrochemical property were also investigated. The results showed that this compound exhibited reversible photochromism, changing from colorless to red after irradiation with UV light both in solution and in PMMA amorphous film. In hexane solution, the open-ring isomer of the diarylethene 1 exhibited relatively strong fluorescence at 440 nm when excited at 350 nm. The electrochemcial switching property can be potential use for electrochemistry data storage.