title: Kinetic characterization of spiropyrans in aqueous media.
abstract: Detailed kinetic investigations of the most common photoswitchable spiropyran, 6-nitro-BIPS, reveal that hydrolytic decomposition of its merocyanine isomer limits its utility in aqueous buffer; however, simple replacement of the 6-nitro substituent with an 8-carboxylate yields a BIPS photoswitch that is potentially better suited for biological applications.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Hönggerberg HCI F322, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland. stafforst@org.chem.ethz.ch
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stafforst
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hilvert