Spiropyrane

For two-photon memories, a number of media types and reading mechanisms have been used (165). Generally, media comprise two photon-absorbing chromophores dissolved within a soHd polymer matrix. Suitable reversible photochromic dyes are, for example, spiropyrans. Although photochromic materials often suffer from photobleaching, as well as from instability leading to self-erasure, new materials and host environments are under development (172). Bacteriorhodopsin (BR) also has been proposed as a two-photon memory material. 

Another halogenated photolysis (30), using carbon tetrabromide to produce hydrogen bromide and subsequent reaction with spiropyran (5), produces a highly colored spiropyrilium bromide salt. 

Photochromism Based on Electrocyclic Reactions. The most common general class of photochromic systems involves reversible electrocychc reactions. Within this general class, the most weU-studied compounds are the indolino spiropyrans and indolino spiroxa2ines. 

The nitro spiropyrans are susceptible to fatigue which has limited their appHcation. Indolino spiroxa2ines exhibit photochromism by way of a mechanism that is very similar to that of the spiropyrans. 

Photoinduced transformations of photochromes (spiropyrans, furan-derived fulgides, dithienylethenes) in polymers 98PAC2157. 

Spiropyrans and fulgides bound with biomolecules as photoswitchable biomaterials (a route to optoelectronic systems) 97ACR347. 

The photochemical cyclisation of 2-aryl-3-cycloalkenyloxychromones results in the formation of a spiropyran unit in a tetracyclic array <96TL8913>. 

Spectral Transparence Starting from 230 nm R R Spiropyran Light-Induced Ring-Opening Reactions Photochromism ... 

When the substituent groups in the polyphosphazenes were azobenzene [719] or spiropyran [720] derivatives, photochromic polymers were obtained, showing reversible light-induced trans-cis isomerization or merocyanine formation, respectively. Only photocrosslinking processes by [2+2] photo-addition reactions to cyclobutane rings could be observed when the substituent groups on the phosphazene backbone were 4-hydroxycinnamates [721-723] or 4-hydroxychalcones [722-724]. 

The photochromism of the spiropyran depends on the structure of heterocyclic parts, the medium such as solvent or plastic films, temperature, and light energy. Though the actual mechanisms may be more complex, a simple photochromic behavior in the spiropyrans is illustrated in Scheme 1. Initially, a spiropyran is excited by photoirradiation, and then a cisoid isomer arises after dissociation of the C—O bond. Finally, the cisoid form changes to the thermodynamically stable transoid form. The equilibrium between the cisoid and transoid forms largely depends on the substituent groups. The reversal of the colored form to the colorless spiropyran occurs by thermal or photochemical energy. More detailed mechanisms will be described in Section 1.2.1.6. 

The numbering of spiropyrans adopted throughout this review is indicated in Figure 1.2. The nomenclature of the spiropyran 1 is given as 1, 3, 3 -trimethyl-spiro[2H-l-benzopyran-2,2 -indoline] it is referred to as spiroindolinobenzopyran and abbreviated as BIPS. 

Over the years, many spiropyran structures have been prepared. The pyran component consists of benzopyran or naphthopyran and the heterocyclic part consists of indoline, benzothiazoline, benzoxazoline, benzoselen-azoline, phenanthridine, acridine, quinoline, benzopyran, naphthopyran, xanthene, benzodithiole, benzoxathiole, and saturated heterocyclic rings such as pyrolidine and thiazolidine. 

Comprehensive and important reviews on photochromism of spiropyrans have been published by Bertelson1 and Guglielmetti2 In the present chapter, general synthetic methods and physical properties of spiropyrans with special reference to leuco dyes will be described. The chapter is divided into the spirobenzopyran, spironaphthooxazine, and spirothiopyran and related compounds. 

The spiroindolinobenzopyran 2 is a classical example of spiropyran and is easily prepared by the condensation of l,3,3-trimethyl-2-methyleneindo-line (Fischer s base) and salicylaldehyde in anhydrous ethanol or benzene (Scheme 2).ia The nucleophilic attack of Fischer s base on the carbonyl group (like an enamine) gives an aldol product, which undergoes ring closure followed by dehydration. This condensation is reversible therefore, an exchange of the salicylaldehyde component of spiropyran with a different salicylaldehyde is possible. For example, when a solution of spiropyran 2 (Scheme 2) was refluxed with 3,5-dinitro-substituted salicylaldehyde, the open form of 6,8-dinitro-BIPS was obtained.2... 

Experimental Preparation of 6-nitrospiropyran 2 (R = Bu). Triethyl-amine (2.65 g, 26 mmol) was added to a suspension of 2,3,3-trimethyl-7V-butylindolinium iodide (9.0 g, 26 mmol) and 5-nitro-salicylaldehyde (4.38 g, 26 mmol) in EtOH (100 ml) under stirring. The mixture was refluxed for 2 h, and filtered off. Recrystallization from hexane gave 6-nitrospiropyran 2 (R = Bu). Also, spiropyran 2 was isolated from the filtrate, which was evaporated under reduced pressure and then was chromatographed on silica gel with dichloromethane-methanol (60 1 v/v). Total yield of 2 (8.3 g) is 88%. 

Instead of metal chelation, an intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the oxygen atom of phenolate and a hydrogen atom of a carboxylic acid in the 8-position leads to stabilization of the colored form, such as compound 12.20,21 This spiropyran exhibits reversed photochromism, which means that thermally stable species change from the spiro form to the colored form, and thus the colorless form produced by photoirradiation soon converts to thermally stable colored form. 

Mechanism of Coloration of Spiropyran Generated by Photophysical Process... 

The photocoloring reaction for spiroindolinobenzopyrans with a nitro group proceeds mainly via the formation of the excited triplet state of the molecule. The reaction proceeds partly from the triplet state [(SP )3] of the spiropyran to the triplet state (X)3 of the cis-cisoid isomer which subsequently transforms into the CF and partly from (SP )3 to the CF. This process from (X)3 to the colored form is accelerated by the presence of atmospheric oxygen (Scheme 6).2,28 For the photocoloring reaction, the participation of singlet or triplet state depends not only on the substituent but also on the nature of the heterocyclic component. 

Solid films of spiropyrans are important in optical data storage. Thin films of spirobenzopyran (1.0 (tm) have been prepared by vacuum deposition, and its reversible photochromism has been confirmed.39 The J-aggre-... 

Spirooxazine is an aza analogue of spiropyran in which the carbon atom at 3-position is replaced by a nitrogen atom. Historically, the photo-chromic phenomenon of spiroindolinooxazine derivatives was found after discovery of photochromic spiroindolinobenzopyran.72... 

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