A photochromic AgBF4 complex with cis-1,2-dicyano-1,2-bis(2′,4′,5′-trimethyl-3′-thienyl)ethene: Synthesis, structure and photochromism

Integrate of AgBF4 with photochromic cis-dbe resulted a new complex, which shows a dinuclear structure and complicated intermolecular H bonds as well as π-π interactions. The strategy successfully suppressed the cis-trans isomerizations not only in complex crystallization but also the photo-excitation process. The reversible photochemical ring-closure and ring-opening were however not be prohibited.