Photochromic dihetarylethenes 5. Synthesis, structure, and photochromic properties of 4,4′-disubstituted 1,2-bis[2-ethyl-5-ethylthio(ethylsulfonyl)-3-thienyl]perfluorocyclopentenes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF02496349

A series of new photochromic compounds were obtained for the first time from 1,2-bis(2-ethylthio-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene by substituting bromine atoms or carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, and carbamoyl groups for hydrogen atoms in positions 4 and 4′. Introduction of these substituents causes a slight bathochromic shift (by 20-30 nm) of a long-wavelength absorption band for the cyclic form and significantly increases the quantum yields of photocyclization Φ_A→B and ring opening Φ_B→A. Depending on the nature of a substituent, Φ_A→B decreases in the order COOH > COOMe > CONHAr. The quantum yields are markedly reduced when the ethylthio groups in positions 5 and 5′ are replaced by ethylsulfonyl groups (a tenfold reduction in Φ_A→B and a four-to fivefold reduction in Φ_B→A). The most considerable bathochromic shift of a long-wavelength band and the highest quantum yields of forward and reverse photoreactions were observed for 1,2-bis(4-bromo-2-ethyl-5-ethylthio-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene. 1,2-Bis(2-ethyl-5-ethylthio-4-methoxycarbonyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene was structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis.