Organic Photochromic and Thermochromic Compounds, Volume 2: Physicochemical Studies, Biological Applications, and Thermochromism

This book is a result of the large increase in the number of publications and patents concerning photochromic compounds and their use in various applications, such as ophthalmic lenses and security printing, during the last 10 years. As a result of this increased interest, two successful International Symposia on Photochromism have been held: the first, ISOP93, in France on Embiez Island near Bandol (September 12-16, 1993) and the second, ISOP96, in the United States in Clearwater, Florida (September 8-12, 1996). The number of countries represented at each of these symposia (17 and 16, respectively) attests to the international scope of the photochromic research community. This global interest is also exemplified by the authors of the chapters within this book. The aim of the second volume of this new review is focused on the physico-chemical properties and photochromic behavior of the best-known systems, leading to new developments in the known photochromic series or the discovery of new families.