title: The temperature dependent photoswitching of a classic diarylethene monitored by in situ X-ray diffraction.
abstract: Organic photochromic molecules including diarylethenes are of particular interest for their numerous potential applications including high-density optical data storage and light-activated switches. In this report, we examined the temperature dependence of the light-drive photocyclization reaction in a classic diarylethene. The steady-state populations were monitored spectroscopically and by temperature dependent in situ photocrystallography, the latter being the first reported example of this technique. The observed decrease in the steady-state population with decreasing temperature suggests this classic diarylethene possesses an excited-state potential energy surface topology similar to previously reported "inverted" diarylethenes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, State University of New York , Buffalo, New York 14260, United States.
authors.forename: Jordan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: Dinesh G Dan
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Mengyang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yu-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jason B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Benedict