Structures and photochromic properties of fulgides based on naphtho[1,2-b]furan and benzo[g]indole

The novel heterocyclic fulgides, i.e. 3-isopropylidene-4-{1-[5-methoxy-1-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl-1H-benzo[g]indol-3-yl]ethylidene}dihydrofuran-2,5-dione and 3-isopropylidene-4-[1-(1-benzyl-5-methoxy-2-methyl-1H-benzo[g]indol-3-yl)ethylidene]dihydrofuran-2,5-dione, were prepared and isolated as E-isomers. Photochromism, E-configuration, and high resistance to photocoloration—photobleaching of solutions of these fulgides as well as 3-isopropylidene-4-[1-(5-methoxy-2-methylnaphtho[1,2-b]furan-3-yl)ethylidene]dihydro-furan-2,5-dione and 3-isopropylidene-4-[1-(5-methoxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-benzo[g]indol-3-yl)ethylidene]dihydrofuran-2,5-dione synthesized previously were shown by X-ray diffraction analysis, 1H NMR spectroscopy and electronic absorption spectroscopy. The novel fulgides show fluorescence and high thermal stability of photogenerated cyclic form. Repeated photo-coloration—photobleaching is accompanied by reversible photoinduced E—Z isomerization. Benzo[g]indolyl fulgides are characterized by the longer wavelength absorption of both original (E) and photoisomeric cyclic (C) forms as compared to naphthofuran fulgide.