title: Photochromic diarylethene-containing ionic liquids and N-heterocyclic carbenes.
abstract: The design and synthesis of a series of photochromic diarylethene-containing Arduengo-type N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) of gold(I), silver(I) and palladium(II) and their imidazolium salt precursors are reported. Reversible photochromic behavior was observed. The open form and the closed form also show different luminescence properties. The electronic and conformational/steric changes associated with the photocyclization and photocycloreversion reactions may open up new opportunities for the discovery of new classes of photochromic ligands and metal-containing materials and catalysts with photoswitchable functions and activities and regio-/enantioselectivities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, PR China. wwyam@hku.hk
authors.forename: Vivian Wing-Wah
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Yam
authors.forename: Jason Ka-Wai
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chi-Chiu
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Nianyong
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D005030:Ethylenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D052578:Ionic Liquids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008697:Methane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010777:Photochemistry; D013053:Spectrophotometry
chemical_list: D005030:Ethylenes; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D052578:Ionic Liquids; C030011:carbene; C036216:ethylene; D008697:Methane