Synthesis-oriented design led us to the construction of a propeller-like dye, containing the triangle terthiophene and triphenylamine units. It reveals typical photochromic properties with alternated UV (390 nm) and visible light (˃ 440 nm) irradiation and the dye solution (in THF) color was also toggled between yellow-green and colorless. A new absorption band was observed in visible region (415-600 nm). Additionally, the photochromic dye was highly emissive with the absolute quantum yield being 0.27. After UV light irradiation, the emission was quenched significantly (Φ = 0.08) at photo-stationary state, and thus establishing a switchable emission "on-off" system by alternated UV/visible light irradiation cycle. Detailed structural analysis was carried out based on the optimized dye structure. Both the antiparallel conformation and the distance of reactive carbon atoms (< 4.2 Å) led to the smoothly photochromic behavior.
Keywords: Propeller-like photochromic dye; Reactive carbon atoms; Switchable emission “on–off”; Triangle terthiophene; Triphenylamine.
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