Organic Photochromic and Thermochromic Compounds

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxii

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2. Introduction

   Pages 1-9

3. Spiropyrans

   • Robert C. Bertelson

   Pages 11-83

4. Spirooxazines

   • Shuichi Maeda

   Pages 85-109

5. Benzo and Naphthopyrans (Chromenes)

   • Barry Van Gemert

   Pages 111-140

6. Fulgide Family Compounds: Synthesis, Photochromism, and Applications

   • Mei-Gong Fan, Lianhe Yu, Weih Zhao

   Pages 141-206

7. Diarylethenes with Heterocyclic Aryl Groups

   • Masahiro Irie

   Pages 207-222

8. Photochromism of Dihydroindolizines and Related Systems

   • Heinz Dürr

   Pages 223-266

9. Photochromic Quinones

   • V. A. Barachevsky

   Pages 267-314

10. Perimidinespirocyclohexadienones

    • Vladimir I. Minkin, Vitaly N. Komissarov, Vladimir A. Kharlanov

    Pages 315-340

11. Photochromism by Electron Transfer: ‘Photochromic Viologens’

    • Masato Nanasawa

    Pages 341-369

12. Back Matter

    Pages 371-378

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Experiments showing a rapid and reversible change of color seem to be magic and are always fascinating. This process called photochromism, has a few real and many potential applications. Photochromic glasses that darken in the sunlight (protecting eyes from excessive light intensity) and bleach in dim light are today a part of everyday life. Organic Photochromic Compounds in plastic ophthalmic lenses, more comfortable to wear, are now competing with silver salts glasses, despite the longer lifetime of the inorganic system. This successful commercial application has given a new impetus to research in the general field of photochromism that had its most recent revival in the early eighties. The story of organic photochromism with its ups and downs, from the breakthroughs of the pioneering period in the fifties, through the hard times due to the drawbacks of photodegradation and the recent successes is in many ways a saga. The upsurges in the domain were marked by an increasing flow of articles in scientific journals and the publication of several Books (in 1971, 1990 and 1992) which have collected the important accumulated knowledge. Over this period, a considerable number of patents have been issued. International meetings have accompanied this activity, the most recent being held in 1993 (ISOP 93 at Les Embiez Island, France) and in 1996 (ISOP 96 in Clearwater, Florida, USA). Remarkably, these meetings had a good representation from both academia and industry. The next ISOP is planned for 1999 in Fukuoka, Japan.

• electron
• information
• molecule
• quinones
• synthesis

• Late of PPG Industries, Inc., Monroeville

  John C. Crano

• University of Aix-Marseille II, Marseille, France

  Robert J. Guglielmetti

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