Synthesis of new photochromic polymers based on phenoxynaphthacenequinone

Abstract

Photochromic compounds of the phenoxynaphthacenequinone type have been incorporated chemically in three polymers: polystyrene, poly(methy1 methacrylate), and polysiloxane, overcoming grave synthetic problems due to the presence of the quinone group. Contents of up to one photochromic unit per polymer unit could be obtained without impairing the photochromism of the polymers. Interconversion of the two modifications of the photochrome takes place photochemically but not thermally and is completely reversible, both in the free and in the incorporated photochrome.

Photochromism of Dithienylethenes Containing Fluorinated Thiophene Rings

“…Various types of photochromic compounds have been developed in an attempt to apply them to optoelectronic devices such as optical memories, photo-optical switches, and displays. [2] Thermal irreversibility is a necessary condition for abovementioned applications, and several compounds, such as furylfulgides, [3] diarylethenes, [4] and phenoxynaphthacenequinone, [5] have been reported to exhibit such photochromic performance. Among these compounds, diarylethenes with heterocyclic aryl groups are the most promising candidates for applications because of their thermal irreversibility and high fatigue resistance.…”

Synthesis of silsesquioxanes having photochromic dithienylethene pendant groups

“…When photochromic chromophores are dispersed in polymer matrices, the reactivity is strongly affected by the matrices. In general, photochemical as well as thermal isomerization rates decrease below T g and the rise/decay curves deviate from first order kinetics [16][17][18][19][20] . The anomalous behavior is attributed to the distribution of the free volume size in the matrices.…”

A Highly Selective Chemosensor for Cu2+ Based on a Diarylethene Linking an Aminoquinoline Unit

“…[25][26][27] Over the past several years, many attentions have been attracted by photochromic compounds due to their potential applications in data storage devices, [28] molecular switches, [29,30] and molecular machines. [31] Up to now, increasing number of photochromic compounds such as furylfulgides, [32] phenoxynaphthacenequinones, [33] and diarylethenes [34][35][36] have been synthesized. Among the various photochromic molecules, diarylethene-based compounds have been served as one of the best candidates for practical applications, because of their excellent thermal stability, remarkable fatigue resistance, high sensitivity, and rapid response.…”