SYNTHESIS AND PHOTOCHROMISM OF ARYL SUBST ITUTED FULGIDES

In this paper, we report the synthesis and photochromism oi four aryl fulgides: (E)-1-(p-methoxyphenyl) ethylidene (isopropylidene) succinic anhydride (BF1), (E)-1-(p-methoxyphenyl) ethylidene (isobutylidene) s uccinic anhydride (BF2), (E)-alpha-naphthylethylidene (isopropplidene) succinic anhydride (NF1), (E)-beta-naphthylethylidene (isopropylidene ) succinic anhydride (NF2): Photochromic processes of these compounds have been studied by nanosecond laser flash photolysis technique, the reaction mechanism has been discussed. It was found that photoinduced cyclization of aryl fulgides is a fast process, and only the excited s ignlet state is involved in the photocyclization reaction.