Large geometrical structure changes of photochromic diarylethenes upon photoirradiation

Photochromic diarylethene derivatives having phenylethynyl and pent-1-ynyl groups at the reactive carbons have been synthesized. These ethynyl groups enhance the cycloreversion quantum yields of diarylethenes without affecting the absorption maxima and the absorption coefficients of the closed-ring isomers. The derivatives exhibited large geometrical structural changes in the photoisomerization process. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.