Two photochromic iodoargentate hybrids with adjustable photoresponsive mechanism

Abstract

Two organic–inorganic iodoargentate hybrids, [(HPBI)·(MeCN)][Ag₃I₄] (1) and [MPBI][Ag₃I₄] (2) (HPBI⁺ = 1-proton-2-phenylbenzimidazolium, MPBI⁺ = 1,3-dimethyl-2-phenylbenzimidazolium), have been synthesized. They exhibit structure-dependent photochromism with fast response and wide color range (from colorless to purple and dark green in 1 and 2, respectively), which are attributed to a substantially reversible photolysis for 1 and dual photolysis and photoinduced secondary ET for 2.