Synthesis, structural, spectral, and photoswitchable properties of cis- and trans-2,2,2',2'-tetramethyl-1,1'-indanylindanes.

As versatile synthetic intermediates for new photoswitchable molecules with a tetramethylindanylindane (stiff-stilbene) core, the cis and trans isomers of 5,16-dibromo-2,2,13',13'-tetramethylindanylindanes 2 were synthesized by the Barton-Kellogg coupling. The bromine atoms of trans-2 could be readily replaced with alkyl (sp3), aryl (sp2), and ethynyl (sp) groups. The cis isomers of the parent tetramethylindanylindane 1 and its bromo derivative 2 were isolated, and their structural and photophysical properties were examined for the first time. Clean and efficient trans-cis and cis-trans photochemical isomerization processes were observed in 1.