Abstract Organic photochromic systems represent a starting point for the elaboration of light- triggered molecular switching devices. The novel bispyridinium and bispyridine compounds 1 2+ and 6 were synthesized as their uncyclized isomers from 3, 5-dibromo-2- methylthiophene in overall yields of 43 and 44%, respectively. The diarylethene photochromes 2 and 10–13, substituted with electron donors and acceptors, were ...
