Photocontrolled molecular switches based on bistable spirocyclic organic and coordination compounds

The modern views on the mechanisms of thermal and photochemical rearrangements of spiropyrans, spirooxazines, spiroperimidines and bis-chelate metal complexes determining their photochromic properties are analyzed. The most important applications of spiropyrans and spirooxazines as photocontrolled molecular switches for the physical and biological properties of hybrid molecular and supramolecular structures and macroscopic materials are considered. Bibliography — 185 references.