pK(a) Switching induced by the change in the pi-conjugated system based on photochromism.

Two diarylethene derivatives 1 a and 2 a containing a 2,5-diaryl-3-thienyl group have been designed and synthesized. The pK(a) values of these compounds change upon photoirradiation. They have a phenol group as a proton source and a pyridinium group as an acceptor unit at each end of the pi-conjugated chain. The cyclization/cycloreversion reactions can be used to control the length of the pi-conjugated chain between the proton source and the acceptor. The change in the pi-conjugated chain length caused the pK(a)-switching.