Design, Synthesis, and Photochromism Studies of Photo-Switchable Bispiropyran Polymers Tomoko Fujiwara, Department of Chemistry, The University of Memphis Spiropyrans/spirooxazines are a class of photochromic compounds whose molecular structures are alterable upon exposure to UV/visible light or changes in temperature. The typical reaction of spiropyran is the conversion between the non-polar Sp form with the polar MC forms. We have designed a functional polymers having unique spiro “dimer” compound at the terminus. The polar face of the MC form dimer strongly attracts ionic species which can be released through visible light due to the transformation into the non-polar Sp form. Major outcomes include: 1) Spiropyran dimer (BIPSD) and spirooxazine dimer (SPOD) have been successfully synthesized. 2) The dimers and their polymer conjugates have shown unique solvatochromism and photochromism kinetics results, and specific binding abilities with Pd catalyst. 3) The self-assembly structures such as micelles and functionalized surfaces have been constructed by the photoswitch dimers. + - UV heat or vis Photochromism of spirooxazine dimer MC + - Pd(PPh3)2Cl2UV Thermal Absorbance spectra with UV irradiation Sp form Optimized MC-Pd cat. by Ampac (PM6)