Fluorescence switching of photochromic diarylethenes

Fluorescence switching performance of photochromic diarylethenes has been studied. A bisbenzothienylethene having m-terphenyl substituents underwent reversible photochromic reactions in the amorphous solid state and exhibited fluorescence intensity change and shift of the emission band with the photochromic reaction. A diarylethene connected with a fluorescent 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene unit through an adamantyl unit shows reversible fluorescence intensity change with the photochromic reactions of the diarylethenes.