Picosecond and femtosecond laser photolysis studies of a photochromic diarylethene derivative: multiphoton gated reaction

Cycloreversion (ring-opening) process of one of the photochromic diarylethene derivatives, 1,2-bis(2-methyl-3-benzothienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (BPFC), was investigated by means of picosecond and femtosecond laser photolysis methods. The drastic enhancement of the reaction yield was observed by the picosecond laser exposure. On the other hand, the cycloreversion reaction yield under femtosecond laser exposure was consistent with the steady-state light irradiation. The excitation intensity effect of the reaction profiles revealed that the successive multiphoton absorption process leading to higher excited states opened the efficient cycloreversion process. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.