Transition metal functionalized photo- and redox-switchable diarylethene based molecular switches

In this review recent progress in combining metal carbonyl and bipyridyl transition metal complexes with dithienylethene photochromic switches is discussed. A key challenge in designing such systems is to allow for interaction between the various components, but without loss in photochemical activity, i.e. the cyclization/cycloreversion of the dithienylethene unit. Examples of where the properties of the switching unit can be fine-tuned either photochemically or electrochemically by the addition of either bipyridyl transition metals or organometallic moieties to the switch will be highlighted. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.