1-(2-Methyl-5-phenyl-3-thienyl)-2-(3-methyl-5-phenyl-2-thienyl)-3,3,4,4,5,5-hexafluorocyclopent-1-ene: a novel photochromic hybrid diarylethene.

The title compound, C27H18F6S2, a novel photochromic hybrid diarylethene derivative containing 2- and 3-thienyl substituents, is one of the most promising photochromic candidates with shorter wavelength for optical storage and other optoelectronic devices. In the crystal structure, the molecule adopts a photoactive antiparallel conformation. The distance between the two reactive C atoms, i.e. the ring C atoms to which the methyl groups are attached, is 3.430 (4) A. The dihedral angles between the thienyl and adjacent phenyl rings are 26.8 (2) and 33.98 (9) degrees.