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Updated: Apr 14, 2026

Determination of the Photoisomerization Quantum Yield of a Hydrazone Photoswitch
Published on: February 7, 2022
Substituent effects on the photochromic properties of benzothiophene-based derivatives
Olivier Galangau1,2, Takuyama Nakashima3, François Maurel4
1International Collaborative Laboratory, Center for Frontier Science and Technology NAIST-CEMES, 29, rue Jeanne Marvig, BP 94347, 31055 Toulouse (France). o-galangau@ms.naist.jp.
Abstract:
Five diarylethene photochromic derivatives, the structures of which incorporate a central benzothiophene unit, a left-hand thiazole group, and a right-hand benzothiophene group, have been prepared. The compound with a thiazole unit with no substituent on the reaction-center carbon atom reveals an unprecedented transformation upon light irradiation. When the 4-position of thiazole is protected by a methyl group, the compounds show high photosensitivity and photochromic properties. In this case, light irradiation affords new compounds with [5]helicene structures featuring the highest redshifted absorption maxima reported to date.
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