article published yes Julie A. Peterson author Friedrich J Stricker author 7aca2cfc-46cf-11f0-abd3-8c96b5186745 Javier Read de Alaniz author DFT calculations were used to find an optimal substitution site on the triene backbone of a donor–acceptor Stenhouse adduct photoswitch to tune the equillibrium and switching kinetics of DASA without modifying the donor and acceptor groups. Using this approach we demonstrate a new means to tuning DASA based photoswitches by increasing the energy of the closed form relative to the open form. To highlight the potential of this approach a new DASA derivative bearing a methyl substituent on the 5-position of the triene was synthesized and the effect of this substitution was studied using 1H NMR spectroscopy, time-dependent UV-Vis and solvatochromic analysis. The new DASA derivative shows a higher dark equillibrium, favoring the open form, and drastically faster thermal recovery than the unsubstituted derivative with the same donor and acceptor. Royal Society of Chemistry2022 eng 1359-7345 1364-548X 3507546410.1039/d1cc06235b 58142303-2306 yes J. A. Peterson, F. J. Stricker, and J. Read de Alaniz, “Improving the kinetics and dark equilibrium of donor-acceptor Stenhouse adduct by triene backbone design,” <i>Chemical Communications</i>, vol. 58, no. 14. Royal Society of Chemistry, pp. 2303–2306, 2022. Peterson JA, Stricker FJ, Read de Alaniz J. 2022. Improving the kinetics and dark equilibrium of donor-acceptor Stenhouse adduct by triene backbone design. Chemical Communications. 58(14), 2303–2306. Peterson, Julie A., Friedrich J Stricker, and Javier Read de Alaniz. “Improving the Kinetics and Dark Equilibrium of Donor-Acceptor Stenhouse Adduct by Triene Backbone Design.” <i>Chemical Communications</i>. Royal Society of Chemistry, 2022. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1039/d1cc06235b">https://doi.org/10.1039/d1cc06235b</a>. Peterson, Julie A., et al. “Improving the Kinetics and Dark Equilibrium of Donor-Acceptor Stenhouse Adduct by Triene Backbone Design.” <i>Chemical Communications</i>, vol. 58, no. 14, Royal Society of Chemistry, 2022, pp. 2303–06, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1039/d1cc06235b">10.1039/d1cc06235b</a>. Peterson JA, Stricker FJ, Read de Alaniz J. Improving the kinetics and dark equilibrium of donor-acceptor Stenhouse adduct by triene backbone design. <i>Chemical Communications</i>. 2022;58(14):2303-2306. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1039/d1cc06235b">10.1039/d1cc06235b</a> J.A. Peterson, F.J. Stricker, J. Read de Alaniz, Chemical Communications 58 (2022) 2303–2306. Peterson, J. A., Stricker, F. J., &#38; Read de Alaniz, J. (2022). Improving the kinetics and dark equilibrium of donor-acceptor Stenhouse adduct by triene backbone design. <i>Chemical Communications</i>. Royal Society of Chemistry. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1039/d1cc06235b">https://doi.org/10.1039/d1cc06235b</a> 218232026-05-06T10:59:03Z2026-05-18T09:46:30Z