The photochemical 6π‐electrocyclization of diarylethenes (DAE), 2‐vinylbiaryls (VBA) and their derivatives is widely used in organic synthesis. Combination of these motifs in one molecule opens the issue of selectivity of the photochemical reaction. We have found that upon UV irradiation, 3‐(1,2‐diarylvinyl)‐2‐arylimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines comprising both DAE and VBA moieties form products of VBA cyclization followed by oxidation. The selectivity of the process was rationalized by DFT calculations. The presented reaction gave access to highly fluorescent 5,6‐diarylnaphtho[1′,2′:4,5]imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine derivatives.

In this work, the title compound was synthesized via the visible-light-induced radical denitrogenative trifluoromethylation of the corresponding vinyl azide followed by Cs2CO3-mediated defluorinative cyclization of the resultant azine. The widely available sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate is used as a precursor of CF3 radicals, while graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is employed as an environmentally friendly, cheap, and efficient heterogeneous photocatalyst. The structure of the synthesized compound was established by 1H, 13C, 19F-NMR, IR spectroscopy, and mass-spectrometry.

There is an incessant interest in transfer of common chemical processes from organic solvents to water, which is vital for the development of bioinspired and green chemical technologies. Diarylethenes feature a rich photochemistry, including both irreversible and reversible reactions that are in demand in organic synthesis, materials chemistry, and photopharmacology. Herein, we introduce the first versatile class of diarylethenes, namely, potassium 2,3-diarylmaleates (DAMs), that show excellent solubility in water. DAMs obtained from highly available precursors feature a full spectrum of photoactivity in water and undergo irreversible reactions (oxidative cyclization to phenanthrenes or rearrangement) or reversible photocyclization (switching), depending on their structure. This finding paves a way towards wider application of DAEs in photopharmacology and bioinspired technologies that require aqueous media for photochemical reactions.