A Versatile Photochromic Dithienylethene-Containing β-Diketonate Ligand: Near-Infrared Photochromic Behavior and Photoswitchable Luminescence Properties upon Incorporation of a Boron(III) Center

A versatile dithienylethene-containing beta-diketonate ligand and its boron(III) compounds have been successfully synthesized. Upon photocyclization, the ligand shows a new absorption band at 630 nm with good fatigue resistance and high thermal stability. Incorporation of the boron center has been demonstrated to shift the photochromic behavior to the NIR region.