Upon visible light irradiation, a thermally reversible photochromic acid generator merocyanine dye gives a proton to the dimethylamino group of a non-photochromic diarylethene in acetonitrile. The protonation rendered the non-photochromic diarylethene photochromic. Thus, the thermally irreversible photochromic nature of the diarylethene is activated without any physical contact or addition of any compound but only by photoirradiation to the merocyanine dye.

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A thermoresponsive dual fluorescence has been generated from a photochromic diarylethene having donor–acceptor moieties.