Design, synthesis and optical properties of a green fluorescent photoswitchable hexaarylbiimidazole (HABI) with non-conjugated design

We report the design, synthesis and optical properties of a fluorescent HABI-based photochrome, which exhibits high fluorescence quantum yield (ΦF = 25%) and efficient quenching in the dissociated state. Efficient contrast fluorescence switching and good reversibility are also demonstrated. We demonstrate the merits of a non-conjugated design strategy for fluorescent HABIs.