Photochromic chemicals

TheChemblog is quickly becoming one of my favorite blogs, it reminds me of the good ole’ days when Dylan Styles had a blog. In this entry Kyle talks about – Photochromic chemicals via Wired Science.

The reaction is rapid and, most interestingly, rapidly reversible, which means that the formation of the green colored product is short lived and the color disappears, most notably faster than the diffusion forces can dissipate the greenish cloud. While the technology isn’t quite new, I’d have to say this is actually published in the incorrect journal. This is potential JACS and/or Angew material, given the rate of reversal and the demonstrable theatrics. Org Lett is an interesting journal and I don’t wince at publishing there, but “greener” pastures should have been waiting for this little idea. For example, if you own a pair of transition lenses, perhaps “green sh*t color” isn’t quite the tint you’re going for, but you’d be happy to know that formation of that tinge would be instantaneous upon exposure to UV light and its disappearances just as instantaneous. That beats unwittingly walking into a stairwell without realizing it because your goddamn glasses are still tinted from being outside.

More:

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