A new synthesis protocol for photochromic triarylethenes and their multifunctional derivatives

A synthesis protocol was presented and applied in the preparation of a series of new photochromic triarylethene (TAE) derivatives cherishing bifunctional groups. The titled molecules all perform photochromism in the rare yellow absorption band in both solution and solid. Some of them show classical aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescence properties, and the fluorescence exhibits distinctive photo-controllable performance. The synthesis and design of photochromic triarylethenes could provide a new alternative for achieving solid photochromic and photo-controllable fluorescent materials based on simple structures and convenient synthesis process.