Photochemical control of organic ferroelectric crystals by using hydrogen-bonding photochromic molecules

为了在光致变色分子的结构转变时，通过分子间的质子转移来改变其物理性质，从而产生光致响应性的有机铁电体，我们设计并合成了含咪唑环的具有氢键能力的新型光致变色二芳基乙烯衍生物。大多数衍生物通过分子间氢键作用形成一维链状结构，并在单晶相中发生光致变色反应。此外，我们还观察到由光致变色分子和其他手性分子组成的氢键共晶体中的对映选择性光化学反应。

In order to create photoresponsive organic ferroelectrics that change their physical properties arising from intermolecular proton transfer upon structural transformation of photochromic molecules, we designed and synthesized new photochromic diarylethene derivatives bearing an imidazole ring with hydrogen-bonding ability. Most of the derivatives formed one-dimensional chain structures by intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions and underwent photochromic reactions in the single-crystalline phase. In addition, we observed enantioselective photochemical reactions in hydrogen-bonding cocrystals composed of photochromic molecules and other chiral molecules.