This paper investigates the dynamics of a variable-order fractional Lorenz–Lü–Chen system, which encompasses the chaotic attractors of the Lorenz, Lü, and Chen systems. The authors propose a numerical scheme based on the fundamental theorem of fractional calculus and Lagrange polynomial interpolation to simulate fractional differential operators with power-law kernels. They examine how random parameter variations affect the system, particularly focusing on the disappearance of chaos in systems that rapidly switch between different chaotic attractors. The study also explores the synchronization of variable-order fractional chaotic systems and the impact of reducing the commensurate fractional order on the system's behavior. The paper includes numerical simulations using MATLAB to demonstrate the chaotic behaviors and synchronization results for different fractional orders and parameter variations. The findings highlight the potential of variable-order fractional derivatives in modeling complex chaotic systems and their applications in various fields.This paper investigates the dynamics of a variable-order fractional Lorenz–Lü–Chen system, which encompasses the chaotic attractors of the Lorenz, Lü, and Chen systems. The authors propose a numerical scheme based on the fundamental theorem of fractional calculus and Lagrange polynomial interpolation to simulate fractional differential operators with power-law kernels. They examine how random parameter variations affect the system, particularly focusing on the disappearance of chaos in systems that rapidly switch between different chaotic attractors. The study also explores the synchronization of variable-order fractional chaotic systems and the impact of reducing the commensurate fractional order on the system's behavior. The paper includes numerical simulations using MATLAB to demonstrate the chaotic behaviors and synchronization results for different fractional orders and parameter variations. The findings highlight the potential of variable-order fractional derivatives in modeling complex chaotic systems and their applications in various fields.