Efficient Synthesis of a New Unsymmetrical Photochromic Diarylethene for Optical Recording Storage

A new photochromic diarylethene 1a has been synthesized, and its photochromic, fluorescent and optical recording strorage properties were investigated. The compound exhibited remarkable photochromism and clear fluorescent switches both in solution and in PMMA film. This new photochromic system also exhibited remarkable optical recording storage character.