Novel polyurethane cationomers bearing p-nitroazoaromatic groups coval
ently incorporated in the polymer chain were synthesized. Their photob
ehavior in polymer films and solutions was investigated by electronic
absorption spectroscopy and was also evaluated comparatively with an i
onic azodiol model. Under UV irradiation, in the first stage of the ph
otoprocess the trans-cis isomerization occurs, followed then by a phot
obleaching reaction in the second stage of the process.