Synthesis and study of photochromic asymmetric bis-spiropyran

Abstract

Asymmetric indoline-benzoxazine bis-spiropyran showing improved photochromic properties due to the electron-donating methoxy group has been prepared by multistage synthesis. The molecular structure of 8-methoxy-3-methyl-4-oxo-2H-1,3-benzoxazine-2-spiro-2′H,8′H-pyrano-[2,3-f]chromene-8′-spiro-2″-1″,3″,3″-trimethylindoline has been studied by X-ray diffraction. After exposure to UV light, the absorption spectra display several long-wavelength maxima, which can correspond to different merocyanine isomers of the bis-spiro compound.