Fluorescence Switching of a Diarylethene Derivative Having Oxazole Rings

A diarylethene derivative, in which oxazole rings are attached to the ethene moiety at the 5-position, was synthesized, and its photochromic and fluorescent properties were examined. The derivative undergoes photochromism in solution and the open-ring isomer exhibits strong fluorescence. The fluorescence intensity was found to reversibly change along with the photochromism.