Crystal structure and photochromism of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzyl-5-one-pyrazole S-methyl thiosemicarbazone

A new organic photochromic compound containing pyrazolone-ring photochromic functional unit: 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzyl-5-one pyrazole S-methyl thiosemicarbazone (PMBP-smtsc) was synthesized. The photochromic properties and photochemical kinetics of PMBP-smtse have been studied by UV reflectance spectra under irradiation of 365 nm light. The crystal structure analyses of photocolored product show the photochromism is due to the photoisomerization from enol form to keto form through an intermolecular proton transfer. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.