From ultrafast spectroscopy to bidirectional molecular switches: DHA/VHF

Abstract

The photoconversion from dihydroazulene (DHA) to vinylheptafulvene (VHF) is governed by two mechanisms: The ring opening proceeds on the excited energy surface on the picosecond time scale. It is followed by an internal conversion to the VHF ground state that is accelerated by the presence of a conical intersection in the case of cyclopenta-DHA. This conical intersection hinders the photoinduced back reaction from the final VHF products. However, we successfully photoconverted the cyanophenyl-VHF-cis back to the DHA with a second delayed pulse. This opens the route to the development of bistable DHAs.