Abstract
Gaining insight into the dynamics of electrocyclic reactions is very important from both fundamental and application perspectives. In this study, we developed novel diarylethene photoswitches that undergo 6 azaelectrocyclic reaction. We found that they exhibit fast thermally reversible type (T-type) photochromism in contrast to the fact that common diarylethenes exhibit photochemically reversible type (P-type) photochromism. The quantum chemical calculations revealed that the fast T-type photochromism originates from the unprecedented disrotatory thermal cycloreversion of the closed-ring isomer. Our results provide useful information not only for the dynamics of the 6 azaelectrocyclic reaction but also for the further development of diarylethene photoswitches utilizing 6 azaelectrocyclic reaction.
Supplementary materials
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Supporting Information
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Experimental details of syntheses, absorption spectroscopy, theoretical calculations, and the detailed data.
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Video S1
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Associated with Figure 2e.
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Video S2
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Associated with Figure 3a.
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Video S3
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Associated with Figure 3b.
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Video S4
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Molecular geometrical change during the thermal cycloreversion of 1–4.
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