Light-induced change of the molecular charge in a spironaphthoxazine compound

To evaluate the experimental conditions for the light-induced change of the molecular charge, the dependence of the photochromic reaction behaviour of the indolino spiro naphthoxazine compound 1,3,3-trimethyl-spiro[2H-indol 2,3′-[3H]naphth[2,1-b]-[1,4]oxazine] on the pH value of the solution is investigated. In the absence of UV light an acid–base equilibrium between the spiro form and a protonated closed form is established. By irradiation under appropriate acidic conditions the spiro form can be transformed into an open cationic form through the merocyanine form. Between the two open forms an acid–base equilibrium is established. Except for the closed protonated form the structures are confirmed by mean of NMR. The kinetics of the thermal ring-closing reaction of both forms are investigated by flash photolysis. It is shown that the ring-closing reaction proceeds exclusively via the merocyanine form. The pK values determined for both equilibria give the pH range, in which the light-induced change of the molecular charge occurs.