Heteroarylstilbenes: Visible-Light-Tunable Photochromic Systems in Water

Visible-light switchable stilbenes with a stable Z isomer that can function in aqueous media are notably rare in the literature. The synthesis and characterization of a set of 12 novel molecules featuring an aryl-substituted heterostilbene motif, a class of visible-light switchable stilbenes, are presented here. Leveraging an electronic push–pull mechanism, strategic selection of electron donors, and an indolinium moiety as the acceptor, we achieved precise tuning of the switching wavelengths.