Efficient synthesis of a new unsymmetrical photochromic diarylethene for optical recording storage

A novel unsymmetrical photochromic diarylethene bearing a benzothiazole unit, 1-[ (2,5-dimethyl-3-thienyl) ]-2-[(2-methyl-5-(2-benzothiazole)-3-thienyl)]perfluoroyclopentene (1O) have been synthesized. Its photochromic, fluorescence and optical strorage properties were investigated. The compound exhibited obviously photochromism both in hexane and in PMMA film. In hexane, the fluorescence intensity of 1O declined along with the photochromism upon irradiation with 297 nm light. This new photochromic system also exhibited remarkable optical storage characters.