LAUSR

Abstract Controllable photochromic reactivity of diarylethene was achieved via synthesis of a novel azadithiacrown-ether functionalized photochromic diarylethene system. Ag+ ion stimuli can alter the electronic energy state of photochromic diarylethene in solution, which facilitates the modulation of photochromic reactivity of the diarylethene system. Upon binding with Ag+ ion, the photochromic reactivity is enhanced drastically and the photochromic reactivity can be suppressed by removing Ag+ with Cl−. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of metal ion gated photochromic diarylethene functionalized with azadithiacrown-ether based on the electronic effect.