Enhancement of the Photochromic Performance of Spirooxazine in Sol-Gel Derived Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Matrices by Additives

Organic-inorganic hybrid materials synthesized via sol-gel processing are excellent solid matrices for photochromic dyes like spirooxazine, and the photochromic performance can be further enhanced by introducing suitable additives. This work describes the effects of additives on the photochromic intensity (ΔA ₀), decolouration rate (k) and photostability of spirooxazine in sol-gel derived organic-inorganic hybrid matrices. They include fluoroalkylsilane (FAS), bisphenolA (BPA) and methyl-imidazole (MI). FAS enhances both ΔA ₀ and photostability, but has little effect onk. The higher the content of BPA, the higher the ΔA ₀ and the higher the photostability, but the lower thek. The effect of MI on ΔA ₀ andk is not so considerable as that of BPA and is a little complicated, while significant improvement in photostability is achieved by the addition of MI at an optimum concentration with the presence of BPA at a higher content.     

Photochromic Coatings Containing Ag(Cl1−xBrx) Microcrystals

Photochromic ormosil coatings containing Ag(Cl_1–x Br _x ) microcrystals were formed on a glass substrate via the sol-gel process. Methyltrimethoxysilane and 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane were used as starting materials of the ormosil matrices. 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane and bromophenyltrimethoxysilane were added as halogen sources and silver colloidal dispersion was introduced into the precursor sol. The coated glass became transparent and photosensitive after Ag(Cl_1–x Br _x ) microcrystals were precipitated in the coatings above 300°C. Insertion of a SiO₂ buffer layer between the substrate and photochromic layer was effective in preventing Ag⁺ migration into the substrate. Photochromic performances were improved by the substitution of Cl with Br and the incorporation of a minute amount of Cu.     

光致变色的PW12/1,10DAD自组装超晶格多层膜

本文报道了在固体基底表面上用PE方法连续自组装沉积PW₁₂和1,10-DAD分子,构建了PW₁₂/1,10-DAD自组装多层膜.紫外-可见吸收、X射线衍射等分析结果表明此多层膜有好的超晶格结构,层间距为3.19nm.与真空蒸镀WO₃薄膜相比,PW₁₂/1,10-DAD自组装多层膜表现出更好的光致变色特性.     

Photochromism of indoline spiropyrans of the coumarin series in polymeric matrices

The photochromic properties and aggregation processes of merocyanine forms of indoline spiropyrans of the coumarin series in the block and film poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were studied and compared by spectral and kinetic methods. Photochromism of the synthesized compounds depends on their structure. The efficient formation of J-aggregates was observed for indoline spiropyrans of the coumarin series based on 8-formyl-7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin and 3-formyl-4-hydroxycoumarin. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 870–875, May, 2007.     

Photo- and thermochromic spiropyrans. 21. 8"-Formyl-3,6"-dimethyl-4-oxospiro(3,4-dihydro-2H-1,3-benzoxazine-2,2"-[2H ]chromene) possessing photochromic properties in the solid phase

Spiropyran of the chromene series, viz., 8"-formyl-3,6"-dimethyl-4-oxospiro(3,4-dihydro-2H-1,3-benzoxazine-2,2"-[2H]chromene), was synthesized. In the solid phase, this compound exhibits photochromic properties. These properties were examined and the crystal structure of the compound was established by X-ray diffraction analysis. The compound is a convenient starting reagent for the synthesis of new spiropyrans containing functional groups at position 8".     

Optically Active Methacrylic Polymers Bearing in the Side Chain the (S)-3-Hydroxypyrrolidinyl Group Linked to trans-bisazoaromatic Chromophore: Synthesis and Characterization

The synthesis by radical homopolymerization of a novel optically active methacrylic polymer containing a side-chain chiral moiety linked to a photochromic bisazoaromatic chromophore has been carried out starting from the related monomer (S)-3-methacryloyloxy-1-[4′-phenylazo-(4-azobenzene)]-pyrrolidine [(S)- MPAAP ]. The polymeric derivate has been fully characterized and its spectroscopic properties compared to those of the monomer and of the corresponding homopolymer bearing only one azoaromatic chromophore in the side chain. The optical activity displayed by the bisazo polymer is discussed in terms of extent of chiral conformation assumed by the macromolecules as a consequence of dipole-dipole interactions between the bisazoaromatic chromophores.     

光致变色液晶聚合物的光致再取向性能研究进展

光致变色分子经掺杂或键合作用嵌在液晶聚合物中可形成光致变色液晶聚合物,在线性偏振光或非偏振光的照射下,此物质中光致变色分子的构型变化会引起整个液晶分子的二维或三维光致再取向的形成,本文综述了光致变色液晶聚合物的光致再取向的近期研究进展.     

三代碳硅烷光致变色液晶树状物的光化学研究——端基含108个4-丁氧基偶氮苯介晶基元

报道了新化合物含108个丁氧基偶氮基元端基的三代(D3)碳硅烷光致变色液晶树状物在各溶液中的反-顺光异构化(光致变色)反应速率常数k_p, 光化学回复异构化正/逆反应速率常数k_t和k_c, 热回复异构化反应速率常数k_H, 光化学回复异构化反应平衡常数k_t/k_c, 活化能E, 异构化转换率及热回复异构化反应中的反-顺异构体组分比. D3的光致变色反应速率常数为10^－1 s^－1, 而含偶氮基元的光致变色液晶聚硅氧烷的光致变色反应速率常数为10^－8 s^－1, 因此, D3的光响应速度比后者快10⁷倍.     

Photochromic Dithienylethene‐Containing Triarylborane Derivatives: Facile Approach to Modulate Photochromic Properties with Multi‐addressable Functions

A series of dithienylethene‐containing triarylboranes has been designed, synthesized, and characterized. The electrochemistry, photophysics, and photochromic behavior have also been studied. The photophysical and photochromic properties could be facilely tuned in this system by varying the thiophene spacers (thiophene, thienothiophene, and bithiophene) between the dithienylethene and the dimesitylboron (BMes₂) or the position of the BMes₂ substitution in the thiophene spacers. The absorption of closed form has been found to be more sensitive towards the structural modification upon incorporation of the BMes₂ unit. Moreover, multi‐addressable photochromic reactivity is obtained upon addition of Lewis base (F^?), which is due to the formation of boron–Lewis base adduct. The dependence of the photophysical and photochromic properties on the thiophene spacers and the position of the BMes₂ substitution has been further supported by computational studies.     

Understanding of Photo-Induced Reversible Rearrangement from Borepin to Borirane

The first reversible photoisomerization between a borepin and a borirane was reported in the photo-induced reactions of B(npy)Ar₂ (npy=2-(naphthalen-1-yl) pyridine, Ar=phenyl or electron rich aryl; S. Wang, et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019 , 58, 6683–6687). In this work, the detailed mechanisms of the unprecedented reversible photoisomerization between the borepin (compound a ) and the borirane (compound b ) of B(npy)Ph₂ in the first excited singlet (S₁) state and the ground (S₀) state were studied by carrying out calculations with the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) and its second-order perturbation (CASPT2) methods combined with time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). The calculation results show that photoexcitation of a -S₀ at 365 nm and b -S₀ at 450 nm populate their S₁ state with evident charge transfer characteristics. The photoisomerization is triggered in the S₁ state and ends in the S₀ state, at which the intersection points in a (S₁/S₀)_x intersection seam participate in and promote phenyl migration and ring-closure processes. Furthermore, we reveal that the not large energy difference (less than 0.6 eV) and similar conjugation properties of π electrons between a -S₀ and b -S₀ are responsible for their unique photo-reversible reactivity, compared with those of the isomers of the thermally reversible compound B(ppy)Mes₂. Our results contribute to an understanding of the excited-state reactivity of organoboron compounds and will be useful to support the design of new boron-based photo-responsive materials.