Abstract

A novel family of photochromic amorphous molecular materials based on dithienylethene, 1-(5-{4-[bis(4-methylphenyl)amino]phenyl}-2-methylthiophen-3-yl)-2-(2-methylbenzo[b]thiophen-3-yl)-3,3,4,4,5,5-hexafluorocyclopentene (1o) and 1,2-bis(5-{4-[bis(4-methylphenyl)amino]phenyl}-2-methylthiophen-3-yl)-3,3,4,4,5,5-hexafluorocyclopentene (2o) with glass-transition temperatures of 66 and 94 °C, respectively, has been developed. Comparison of photochromic properties between 1o and 2o shows that the incorporation of two bulky triphenylamine moieties leads to higher conversion of photocyclisation in the amorphous film.