Diarylethene Dyes

Abstract

AbstractThis article introduces the general characteristics of the diarylethene class of photochromic dye and the structural features that make photochromism possible. It touches on the methodologies employed to synthesize these compounds as well as the influences that typical substitution patterns exert on photocoloration. A demonstration is then given of the great diversity pertaining to the potential applications in which researchers are seeking to exploit them as functional colorants.