Synthesis and Properties of a New Asymmetry Diarylethene 1-{2-methyl-[5-(4-methylene-hydroxyl)phenyl]-3-thienyl}-2-[2-methyl-5-(10-phenanthrenyl)-3-thienyl]perfluorocyclopentene

Abstract

A new asymmetry photochromic diarylethene based on a phenanthrene, which is named 1-{2-methyl-[5-(4-methylene-hydroxyl) phenyl]-3-thienyl}-2-[2-methyl-5-(10-phenanthrenyl)-3-thi-enyl] perfluorocyclopentene 1o, was designed and constructed successfully. And its properties have been discussed systematically, including photochromic, HPLC, concentration effect and fluorescent switch. The result indicated that its photochromic behaviors could be modulated by UV/Vis light, changing between colorless and violet in dichloromethane solution, respectively. What’s more, it could also response to various concentrations, with emission maximum density 5 × 10-5 mol L-1. In addition, the optical switch experiment illustrated that the diarylethene 1 functioned as a remarkable fluorescent switch, which fluorescent modulation efficiency was 63% in the photostationary state.