Synthesis and Fluorescence Switching of a New Purple Photochromic Diarylethene

A novel photochromic diarylethene was synthesized and its photochromism, fluorescence properties have been investigated. It underwent reversible cyclization and cycloreversion reactions upon alternating irradiation with UV and visible light in hexane. The results showed that this compound exhibited reversible photochromism and good fluorescent switching in solution and in PMMA upon irradiation with UV light and visible light.