Two annelated spiro [fluorene-chromene] structures, spiro[2H-benzo[h]chrome
ne-2,9'-fluorene], C25H16O, and 9,10,11,12-tetrahydrospiro[3H,8H-cyclohepta
[4,5]furano[3,2-f]chromene-2,9'-fluorene], C28H22O2, have been analysed in
order to define the effect of introducing a spiro-C atom into the pyran rin
g on the photochromic properties of the chromenes. The results are compared
with those obtained for previously studied non-spiro 2,2-substituted chrom
enes.