title: Synthesis of novel thermally reversible photochromic axially chiral spirooxazines.
abstract: The Suzuki reactions of diboronic acid 1 and bromo-spirooxazine 2, under N(2) atmosphere and aerobic conditions, gave the dispirooxazine-substituted binaphthyl product 3 and the monospirooxazine-substituted binaphthyl derivative 4, respectively. The thermally reversible photochromic behavior of the target axially chiral spirooxazines 3 was investigated, and both the ring-opening process upon irradiation with 365 nm light and the thermally reverse ring-closing process were fast. These chiral spirooxazines were found to impart their chirality to an achiral liquid crystal host, at low doping levels, to form a self-organized photoresponsive helical superstructure.
authors.affiliation: Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44240, USA.
authors.forename: Li-Mei
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Yannian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li