Synthesis and application for optical recording of a novel diarylethene with benzofuran unit

A new photochromic diarylethene, 1-(2-ethyl-benzofuran-3-yl)-2-(2-methyl-5-(4-formylphenyl)-thien-3-yl) perfluorocyclopentene (1o), was synthesized and its photochromic and fluorescent properties were investigated. This diarylethene exhibited reversible photochromism and notable fluorescence photoswitches both in solution and in PMMA films. Using diarylethene 1c/PMMA film as recording medium and a linearly polarized 633 nm laser diode for recording and readout, optical recording can be carried out in this film.