Structure-property relationship of phenoxynaphthacenequinones and their relatives

Like 6-phenoxy-5,12-naphthacenequinone (1), 6-[4-(2-( 8-hydroxyphenyl) isopropyl)phenoxy]-5, 12-naphthacenequinone (2) and 6-naphthyloxynaphthacenequinone (6) showed normal photochromism, The relative initial rates of trans to ana photoconversion were in the order: 1, 100; 2, 37; 6, 21, 6-[4-(Phenylazo)phenoxyl-5,12-naphthacenequinone (3), 6-[4-(p-ethoxyphenylazo) phenoxy]-5,12-naphthacenequinone (4), 6-[4-(p-nitrophenylazo)phenoxy]-5,12-naph cenequinone (5) had only slight W-induced photochromism for the phenoxynaphthacenequinone photochrome. 6-(2-Nitrosonaphthyloxy)-5,12-naphthacenequinone (7) exhibited no photochromism and underwent irreversible photoreaction.