Azole-based diarylethenes as the next step towards advanced photochromic materials

Publication date: September 2018Source: Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology C: Photochemistry Reviews, Volume 36Author(s): Andrey G. Lvov, Marat M. Khusniyarov, Valerii Z. ShirinianAbstractFor a long time, starting from pioneering works of M. Irie in the late 80 s and early 90 s of the last century, photochromic diarylethenes were primarily associated with dithienylethenes – diarylethenes possessing thiophene groups. However, about 10 years ago, azole heterocycles (thiazole, oxazole, imidazole) started to be used as aryl moieties instead of common thiophenes, which contributed significantly to the development of diarylethene-based photochromes. In this review, we analyzed in detail the effects of substituting traditional thiophenes in diarylethenes by azoles and revealed amazing examples of functional molecules, materials, and devices based on azole-containing photochromic molecules.Graphical abstract

Source: Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology C: Photochemistry Reviews - July 11, 2018 Category: Chemistry Source Type: research