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Facile synthesis and characterization of new photochromic trans-dithienylethenes functionalized with pyridines and fluorenes

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Abstract

Three symmetrical and unsymmetrical trans-dithienylethenes functionalized with pyridines and fluorenes have been synthesized by a facile one-pot procedure, and their characteristics and photochromism were investigated. Their fluorescent intensity was efficiently regulated by a photochromic switch using alternative irradiation with UV light and visible light. Moreover, by protonation and complexation, the pyridyl-substituted compounds also showed excellent photoswitching properties with distinguishable color changes. These characteristics are expected to be applicable to potential multi-addressable photoswitch and erasable optical data processing technologies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Lab for Advanced Materials and Institute of Fine Chemicals, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P. R. China

    Qianfu Luo, Yi Liu, Xin Li & He Tian

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  1. Qianfu Luo
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  2. Yi Liu
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  3. Xin Li
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  4. He Tian
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Correspondence to He Tian.

Additional information

This paper is part of a themed issue on synthetic and natural photoswitches.

Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Details of the synthetic procedures and 1H NMR spectral data for compounds 1′-3′, and the optimized conformations of all six trans- and cis-isomers. See DOI: 10.1039/b9pp00088g

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Luo, Q., Liu, Y., Li, X. et al. Facile synthesis and characterization of new photochromic trans-dithienylethenes functionalized with pyridines and fluorenes. Photochem Photobiol Sci 9, 234–238 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1039/b9pp00088g

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/b9pp00088g

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