Effect of substitution position of aryl groups on the thermal back reactivity of aza-diarylethene photoswitches and prediction by density functional theory

• Misato Suganuma,
• Daichi Kitagawa,
• Shota Hamatani and
• Seiya Kobatake

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 242–252, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.16

• Misato Suganuma Daichi Kitagawa Shota Hamatani Seiya Kobatake Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Metropolitan University, 3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan 10.3762/bjoc.21.16 Abstract Aza-diarylethene has been developed as a new

• family of photochromic compounds. This study explores the photochromic properties and thermal back reactivities of various aza-diarylethene regioisomers (N1–N4 and I1–I4) in n-hexane. These molecules exhibit fast thermally reversible photochromic reactions driven by 6π aza-electrocyclization. Kinetic

• reactivity, closely matching the experimental data. These findings offer valuable insights for the design of advanced photochromic materials with tailored thermal and photophysical characteristics. Keywords: aza-diarylethene; DFT calculation; photochromism; prediction; thermal back reactivity; Introduction