Electrochemical switch based on the photoisomerization of a diarylethene derivative

3,4-Bis[5-(2'-thiophene)-2-methylthien-3-yl]-2,5-dihydrothiophene 1a was synthesized and underwent excellent ring-opening and ring-closing photoisomerization in solution with UV/Vis light irradiation. Both ring-open isomer and ring-closed isomer of diarylethene showed electrochemical behavior, and the oxidation/reduction potential was reversible based on the ring-opening and ring-closing photoisomerization of diarylethene with UV/Vis light irradiation. Besides, a combination of photochromism and electrochromism of 1a was also observed. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.