Electronic structure of light-induced lophyl radical derived from a novel hexaarylbiimidazole with pi-conjugated chromophore.

A novel photochromic hexaarylbiimidazole with a bithienyl group as an extended pi-conjugation unit was synthesized and the light-induced lophyl radical was found to be stabilized due to the delocalization of an unpaired electron, and to strongly absorb near-infrared light.