Trifluoromethyl (CF3)-substituted donor–acceptor norbornadiene (NBD) derivatives were synthesized. The photoisomerization of CF3-NBD derivatives proceeded smoothly. The thermal stability of quadricyclane (QC) derivatives obtained from CF3-NBD derivatives was examined, and it was found that the CF3 group increased the thermal stability of the QC derivatives. Furthermore, CF3-NBD derivatives exhibited efficient fatigue resistance.