Photochromism of dihydroindolizines. Part XVI: first attempts toward molecular wires comprising photochromic dihydro 5-azaindolizines and π-extended ethynyl and butadiynyl oxadiazole derivatives

Eight new photochromic dihydro 5-azaindolizines (DHAIs) linked with 2,5-diaryl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (OXD) derivatives containing terminal ethynes and butadiyne substituents on the fluorene part of the DHAI skeleton are synthesized via palladium-mediated coupling reaction pathways. Irradiation of the DHAI-OXD derivatives with polychromatic light affords red- and green-colored betaines.