A multifunctional organometallic switch with carbon-rich ruthenium and diarylethene units

The perturbation of a dithienylethene system by a ruthenium carbon-rich system, and vice versa, was used to reach a unique and sophisticated light- and electro-triggered multifunctional switch featuring multicolor electrochromism, electrocyclization at remarkably low voltage, and photo/electro tuning of electronic communication.