SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOTOCHROMIC 2-(1',2'-DIMETHYL-3'-INDOLYL)-3-(2''-METHYL-3''-BENZO[B]THIOPHENYL) MALEIC ANHYDRIDE AND ITS POLYSTYRENE DERIVATIVES

Abstract

Photochromic 2-(1'2'-dimethyl-3'-indolyl)-3-(2''-methyl-3''-benzo[b]thiophenyl) maleic anhydride (DIMBMA) was synthesized by electrocyclic reaction. The new synthetic route gave a better yield than previously reported thio-Claisen rearrangement method. Partially aminomethylated polystyrene was used to label DIMBMA, DIMBMA in benzene solution or polystyrene film turned into the cyclic form by 488 nm wavelength and using 632.8 nm or ambient light it was easily reverted. The reverse reaction did not proceed in dark condition and its life time seemed extremely long. The forced Rayleigh scattering was used to measure the diffusion coefficient of DIMBMA and its holographic efficiency in benzene solution.