title: The effect of the formyl group position upon asymmetric isomeric diarylethenes bearing a naphthalene moiety.
abstract: Three new isomeric asymmetric diarylethenes with a naphthyl moiety and a formyl group at the para, meta or ortho position of the terminal benzene ring were synthesized. Their photochromism, fluorescent-switch, and electrochemical properties were investigated. Among these diarylethenes, the one with a formyl group at the ortho position of benzene displayed the largest molar absorption coefficients and fluorescence quantum yield. The cyclization quantum yields of these compounds increased in the order of para < ortho < meta, whereas their cycloreversion quantum yields decreased in the order of meta > para > ortho. Additionally, all of these diarylethenes functioned as effective fluorescent switches in both solution and PMMA films. Cyclic voltammograms proved that the formyl group and its position could effectively modulate the electrochemical behaviors of these diarylethene derivatives.
authors.affiliation: Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Jiangxi Science & Technology Normal University, Nanchang 330013, PR China.
authors.forename: Renjie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shouzhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shiqiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cui