Unprecedented Stability of a Photochromic Bisthienylethene Based on Benzobisthiadiazole as an Ethene Bridge

摘要

Photochromic systems are of increasing interest as a result of their applications in ophthalmic lenses and as smart molecular materials that act as photoresponsive self-assembling systems, molecular switches, logic gates, and information storage media. In particular, bisthienylethenes (BTEs) have become one of the most promising families because of their thermal irreversibility and outstanding fatigue resistance since the 1,3,5-hexatriene section can adopt an appropriate conformation to undergo a conrotatory 6π-electron photo-cyclization. To date, the rational design of symmetric or asymmetric BTEs has mainly been carried out by modifying the thiophene rings.