Photochromic compounds classification

Consequently, the main class of photochromic compounds that shows change in chirality by photochromic transformation is that based on electrocyclization. Fulgides [11-13], diarylethenes [14-16], and spiropyrans [17,18] are included in this class. It may be somewhat strange to put spiropyrans into this category because the colored merocyanine forms. ure known to take zwitterionic structures, which do not cyclize through the electrocyclization mechanism. However, in order to simplify the classification, we consider spiropyrans to cyclize from the neutral dienone structures as the merocyanine forms. 

Organic photochromism (IUPAC Technical Report summarizing data on terminology in the field and classification of photochromic compounds) 01PAC639. 

The terms diarylethenes, dithienylethenes, and dihetarylethenes, as applied to the structures of photochromic products II, of course, do not strictly meet the nomenclature requirements. However, these terms have gained wide acceptance in the special literature. The classification of compounds containing heterocycles as bridges is also rather arbitrary. 

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