Electronic absorption spectra of merocyanine forms of spiropyrans

A simple method is proposed for the measurement of the absorption spectra in the visible and UV regions of photocolored solutions of spiropyrans, formed by the action of constant lowintensity UV irradiation, and for the construction, on the basis of these data, of the absorption spectra of the merocyanine forms of spiropyrans. The absorption spectra of the merocyanine forms of two spiropyrans in various solvents are examined.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 11, pp. 1534–1538, November, 1972.