Aldehyde-substituted acceptor-DTE-acceptor-type dithienylethene as a versatile building block for near-infrared photochromic materials:

A novel aldehyde-substituted acceptor-DTE-acceptor-type dithienylethene derivative, in which the difluoroboron beta-diketonate and aldehyde groups at the termini of the dithienylethene function as electron acceptors, has been developed. The structure was confirmed by H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, F-19 NMR, high-resolution mass spectrometry (electrospray ionization) and infrared. The derivative displays solvent-dependent photophysical properties, visible light-triggered near-infrared photochromism, and fluorescent switching behavior in solvents of different polarity. Moreover, it can be utilized as a versatile building block to construct novel near-infrared photochromic materials.