Combination of fluorescent switch and electrochemical switch based on a photochromic diarylethene

Abstract

A new photochromic diarylethene with oligothiophene side arm substituents has been synthesized. This diarylethene undergoes excellent photoisomerization with UV/Vis light irradiation, and shows fluorescence emission and electrochemical behavior. Both the fluorescence emission and oxidation/reduction potential are reversible based on the ring-opening and ring-closing photoisomerization of diarylethene with UV/Vis light irradiation, which may be used as a fluorescent and electrochemical switch. In addition, a combination of photochromism and electrochromism is observed for the diarylethene: the ring-closing reaction can be triggered by electrochemical oxidation while the ring-opening reaction must be photochemically driven.