Ethynyl-equipped Spirobenzopyrans as Promising Photochromic Markers for Nucleic Acid Fragments

A Modern Look at Spiropyrans: From Single Molecules to Smart Materials

Photochromic compounds of the spiropyran family have two main isomers capable of inter-switching with UV or visible light. In the current review, we discuss recent advances in the synthesis, investigation of properties, and applications of spiropyran derivatives. Spiropyrans of the indoline series are in focus as the most promising representatives of multi-sensitive spirocyclic compounds, which can be switched by a number of external stimuli, including light, temperature, pH, presence of metal ions, and mechanical stress. Particular attention is paid to the structural features of molecules, their influence on photochromic properties, and the reactions taking place during isomerization, as the understanding of the structure-property relationships will rationalize the synthesis of compounds with predetermined characteristics. The main prospects for applications of spiropyrans in such fields as smart material production, molecular electronics and nanomachinery, sensing of environmental and biological molecules, and photopharmacology are also discussed.

Silica sulfuric acid magnetic nanoparticle: an efficient and ecofriendly catalyst for synthesis of spiro[2-amino-4H-pyran-oxindole]s

Silica sulfuric acid magnetic nanoparticles efficiently catalyze the one-pot, three-component reaction of isatins and malononitrile with dimedone, 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid or 4-hydroxycoumarin in EtOH–H2O to afford the corresponding spiro[2-amino-4H-pyran-oxindole] derivatives in high yields under ultrasound irradiation at 60 °C. The heterogeneous nanocatalyst could be recovered easily from the reaction mixture using an external magnet and reused many times without significant loss of its catalytic activity.

Enhanced bi-stability in a ruthenium alkynyl spiropyran complex

Attachment of a ruthenium alkynyl unit to a spiropyran ligand extends the lifetime of the merocyanine form of the complex more than twenty-fold.