1,2-Bis[5-(4-cyanophenyl)-2-methyl-3-thienyl]-3,3,4,4,5,5-hexafluorocyclopent-1-ene: a photochromic diarylethene compound

The molecules of the title compound, C29H16F6N2S2, a photochromic dithienylethene with 4-cyanophenyl substituents, adopt an antiparallel arrangement that is reponsible for photoactivity. The molecule lies on a twofold rotation axis. The dihedral angle between the nearly planar cyclopentenyl and heteroaryl rings is 142.5 (3)°, and that between the heteroaryl and benzene rings is 22.4 (3)°. The distance between the heteroaryl rings of adjacent molecules is 3.601 (2) Å, indicating a π–π interaction.