Synthesis and photochromic properties of polymers containing spirooxazine groups

Two spirooxazine (SO) compounds containing bromobutyl substituents on 1-position (SO1) and 9′- position (SO2) have been synthesized and characterized by 1H-NMR, IR and ESI-MS in this paper. SO1-g-PMMA and SO2-g-PMMA polymer were prepared by grafting SO1 and SO2 onto PMMA through C-Br bonding sites. Also, SOs were doped into PMMA matrix to afford SO1-d-PMMA and SO2-d-PMMA. Photochromic behaviors of these compounds have been studied. Compared with SO1, SO2 exhibited better photoresponse and slower bleaching in dichloromethane solution. Inserted into polymer films, the decoloration process of SOs were significantly retarded and it was found that the fading curves fitted a first-order equation; As regard to four polymers, 1-position grafting (SO2-g-PMMA) can cause a higher reduction degree on the thermal fading rate.