In the photochromic title compound, C25H24N2O2, the C-spiro-O bond can
be broken on photoexcitation. Conformational parameters and oxazine-r
ing puckering have been investigated by considering similar photochrom
ic compounds. It is shown that when the C-spiro-O bond is elongated, a
nd therefore weakened, the ring-puckering coefficient is smaller and p
hotochromic activity increases.