Synthesis of photochromic 6-aryl-substituted bis(benzothiophenyl)- perfluorocyclopentenes by the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling

The Suzuki cross-coupling of 1,2-bis(6-iodo-2-methylbenzo[b]thiophen-3-yl)hexafluorocyclopentene and (het)arylboronic acids depending on the reaction conditions affords bis- or mono-adducts. The latter on next cross-coupling with different boronic acid give unsymmetrical dihetarylethenes. Spectral-kinetic studies of the photoinduced cyclization of the compounds obtained were performed.