NAPHTHOPYRANS, COMPOSITIONS AND ARTICLES CONTAINING THEM

Abstract: The invention relates to photochromic compounds of general formula (I), in which: R1-R8 represent various substituents, characterized in that at least two of the groups R3-R6 are C1-C6 alkoxy groups.

Description: NAPHTHOPYRANS, COMPOSITIONS AND ARTICLES CONTATNTNG THEM The present invention concerns novel compounds of the naphthopyran type, presenting, in particular, photochromic properties It also concerns the photochromic compositions and ophthalmic articles (for examples, lenses) which contain naphthopyrans Photochromic compounds are capable of changing colors due to the influence of poly- or monochromatic light (for example, UV radiaϋon) and to recover their lniual color again when the luminous irradiauon stops, or under the influence of poly- or monochromaUc light different from the first one, or under the influence of temperature and/or poly- or monochromaUc light different from the first one These photochromic compounds find applications m different fields, for example, in the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses, contact lenses, sun protecuon glasses, filters, opucal systems of cameras or photographic apparatuses or other opucal and observation devices, paneling, decoraUve objects, display elements or for the storage of informauon by optical inscription (coding) In the field of ophthalmic opUcs, and in particular in eyeglass wear, a photochromic lens, compπsing one or more photochromic compounds, must present • high transmission in darkness or in the absence of sunlight, - low transmission (high colorabihty) under similar irradiauon, - an adapted coloration or discoloraUon kinetics, - a Unt that is acceptable to the consumer (preferably gray or chestnut brown) with, preferabl j , maintenance of the selected unt duπng the coloration or discolorauon of the lens, - maintenance of the performances of the properties in a temperature range of 0-40°C, - high durability, because the targeted objectives are sophisucated and hence correcuve lenses are expensive These lens characteπsUcs are in fact determined by the acϋve photochromic compounds which must in addition be compatible with the organic material or mineral consutuUng the lens It should also be noted that the obtention of a gray or chestnut brown Unt should require the use of at least two photochromes of different colors, that is, having different maximum absorpϋon wavelengths in the visible range This associaϋon also places other requirements on photochromic compounds In particular the colorauon and discoloration kineύcs of the two or more associated active photochromic compounds must be essentially identical The same applies to their stability over time and also, to their compaubility with a plastic or mineral support Among the numerous photochromic compounds descπbed in the pπor art, one can cite the naphthopyrans descπbed in U S Patent Nos 3,567,605, 3,627,690, 4,826,977, 5,200,116, 5,458,814 and Research Disclosure No 36144 The claim is made that these compounds satisfy the above defined specifications In fact, whereas these compounds have in fact one or more of the desired basic properties, such as high transmission in darkness and high colorability under solar irradiation, all the compounds descπbed to this day do not have the complete combinauon of desired properties required for the producUon of saUsfactory articles that can be manufactured industnally Altliough the pπor art teaches how to modify the discoloration kineUcs by the presence of a methyl group in Rl and R2, it does not teach how to modify the profile of the visible spectrum of the acϋvated form (exposure to UV) The compounds of the pπor art are generally orange or red with a pπncipal absorpUon band in the visible range It is the meπt of the applicant to have found, surpπsingly, that the presence of at least two alkoxy groups, at R3 and R5, allowed the obtenϋoπ of photochromes having two intense absorpUon bands in the visible range and at lugh values of A ™* The compounds of the invenUon thus cover a part of the visible spectrum (400-700 nm) Thus, the present invenUon concerns compounds, particularly photochromic compounds, having the following general formula (I) in which - Rl, R2, R4 and R6 are idenucal or different and they represent, independently • hydrogen, • a halogen, preferably fluonne, chloπne or bromine, a linear or branched alkyl group compπsing 1-12 carbon atoms, • a cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl group compπsing 3 to 12 carbon atoms, • a linear or branched alkoxy group compπsing 1-12 carbon atoms, • a linear or branched haloalkyl or haloalkoxy group compπsing 1-6 carbon atoms, preferably a fluoroalkyl group, - a linear or branched alkenyl or alkynyl group compnsmg 1-12 carbon atoms, preferably a vinyl or allyl group, • a methacryloyl group or an acryloyl group, ■ an epoxy group having the formula //insert a, p Ml in which n = 1, 2 or 3 • an aryl or aryloxyl group, whose aryl group compπses 6-24 carbon atoms, or a heteroaryl or heteroaryloxy group whose heteroaryl group compπses 4-24 carbon atoms and at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisUng of sulfur, oxygen and mtrogen, the aiyl or heteroaryl group opUonally subsututed by at least one subsϋtuent selected from - a halogen, preferably fluonne, chloπne or bromine, - a linear or branched alkyl group compπsing 1-6 carbon atoms, - a linear or branched alkoxy group compπsing 1-6 carbon atoms, - a linear or branched haloalkyl or haloalkoxy group compnsing 1-6 carbon atoms, preferably a fluoroalkyl group, - an -NH 2 group, - an NHR group, where R represents a linear or branched alkyl group compπsing 1-6 carbon atoms, - a NR'R" group, where R' and R", which may be idenucal or different, independently represent a linear or branched alkyl group compπsing 1-6 carbon atoms or they represent, together with the mtrogen atom to which they are bound, a 5-7-member nng which can compπse at least one other heteroatom selected from the group of oxygen, sulfur and mtrogen, said mtrogen being opUonally subsututed by a linear or branched alkyl group compπsing 1 -6 carbon atoms, • an aralkyl or heteroalkyl group whose linear or branched alkyl group compπscs 1 -4 carbon atoms and whose aryl and heteroaryl groups are as defined above, an -NH 2 , -NHR, NR'R", CONH 2 , CONHR or CONR'R" group, where R R' and R" are as defined above, • an OCOR'or COOR' group, where R' represents a linear or branched alkyl group compπsing 1-6 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl group compπsing 3-12 carbon atoms or an aryl or heteroaryl group as defined above, • a polyether, polyamide, polycarbonate, polycarbamatc, polyurea or polyester residue, R7 and R8 are idenucal or different and they represent independently a linear or branched alkyl group compπsing 1-12 carbon atoms, • a cycloalkyl group compπsing 3-12 carbon atoms, an aryl or heteroaryl group as defined above for Rl, R2, R4 and R6, the julolιdιn-9-yl group, or • the two groups R7 and R8 together form an adamantyl, norbornyl, fluorenylidene or dι(Cl-C6 alkyl)anthracenylιdene or spιro(C5-C6 cycloalkyl)anthracenylιdene group, charactenzed in that R3 and R5 are idenucal or different and they each represent a linear or branched alkoxy group compπsing 1-6 carbon atoms Among the subsϋtuents that can be considered for the compounds of formula (I) according to the invenuon, groups should be considered that compπse and or form at least one funcUon wluch can be polymeπzed and/or crosslinked, which group are preferably selected from the following list alkenyl, advantageously vinyl, methacryloyl, acryloyl, acryloxyalkyl, methacryloxyalkyl or epoxy Thus, the photochromic compounds according to the invention can be monomers, of different types or not, that can react with each other or with other comonomers to form homopolymers and/or copolymers that bear a photochromic funcUonality and possess mechanical properties of macromolecules It follows that one of the objects of the present invenUon consists of these homopolymers or copolymers compπsing (co)monomers and/or of crosslinked compounds, that, at least in part, consist of photochromic compounds (I) according to the invenUon In the same order of ideas, the above-menϋoned compounds (I) can be crosslinking agents that have reacUve funcUons capable of allowing the formauon of bndges between chains of polymers of photochromic nature or not The crosslinked compounds that can be obtained in this manner also are a part of the present invention In a generally prefeπed manner, the alkoxy groups are methoxy groups Prefeπed compounds of the invenUon have the following formulas (II and 12) where R7 and R8 are polyaromaUc or polyheteroaromaUc groups that are opUonally subsututed by one or more C1-C5 alkoxy groups, C1-C6 amine or alkyl groups or C6-C12 aryl groups It is the meπt of the applicant to have disclosed these compounds, because they present parUcularly advantageous photochromic properties More precisely, they have a strong colorability with two absorpUon bands m the visible range with high X ^ values These compounds are also preferably stable and compauble with matrices made of organic polymer or mineral mateπal, both in the form included in the matπx and m the form of the coaUng In a soluUon or in the polymer matπx, the compounds according to the invenUon are colorless or slightly colored in the iniUal state and they rapidly develop an intense coloration under UV light (365 nm) or a luminous source of the solar type They rapidly recover their iniUal color when the lπadiaUon stops The compounds of the invenUon can be obtained by the condensaUon of a deπvaUve of I- naphthol that is suitably subsututed and - either a deπvative of propargyl alcohol (the condensauon, according to this vanant, can be earned out in solvents such as toluene, xylene or tetrahydrofuran and, opUonally, in the presence of a catalyst such as p-toluenesulfonic acid, chloroaceUc acid or acid aluminic acid) - or a denvaUve of acrolein (in the presence of tanium tetraethylate) . TXOEt), These syntheUc pathways are classical and have been descπbed in the above-menuoned references of the pπor art as well as in European Patent No A-0,562,915 The ketones (R7)(R8)CO are either commercially available or easily synthesized by the classical methods, for example, the Fπedel-Krafts reacϋon from an acid chlonde The deπvauves of propargvl alcohol are then obtained by the reacUon of lithium acetyhde with the corresponding ketones The dem auves of acrolein can be obtained by reaπangement of the coπespondmg deπvaUve of propargyl alcohol m an acidic medium (see J Org Chem 1977, Vol 42, p 3403, Edens et al ) The dcπvatives of 1-naphthol are obtained by vanous methods adapted from the literature Below we give some references on methods that allow the synthesis of the compounds of the invenUon Method 1 Sibi et al , Org. Chem 1986, Vol 51, pp 271-273 Key 1 MeLi or LDA or s-BuLi Method 2 U.S Patent No 5,200,116 (Example 2) Method 3 Johnson et al. Org. React. 1951, Vol 6, p 1 Regarding the applicaUon of the compounds according to the present invenUon, it should be noted that they can be used as a photochromic matenal dispersed in the composiUon of a polymer matπx They can also be used in soluUon A photochromic soluUon can be obtained by dissolving the compound in an organic solvent, such as toluene, dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran or ethanol. The soluUons obtained are generally colorless and transparent. When exposed to sunlight, they develop a strong coloration and they recover the color of this state when placed in a zone with lesser exposure to solar radiation or, in other words, when they are no longer exposed to UV radiauon. In general a very low concentraUon of products (on the order of 0.01-5%) is sufficient to obtain an intense coloraUon The most interesUng app caUons are those in which the photochrome is dispersed uniformly within or on the surface of a polymer, copolymer or mixture of polymers The implementaUon methods that can be considered are of a great vaπety Among those known to a person skilled in the art, one can cite, for example, diffusion in the (co)polymer, from a suspension or soluUon of the photochrome, in a silicone oil, in an aliphaUc or aromatic hydrocarbon, in a glycol, or from another polymer matπx Currently the diffusion is earned out at a temperature of 50-200°C for a duration of 15 min to several hours, depending on the nature of the polymer matπx Another implementaUon technique consists in mixing the photochrome in a formulaUon of polymeπzable mateπals, in deposiUng this mixture on a surface or in a mold and in then carrying out the polymeπzaUon These implementaUon techmques and others are descπbed in the article by CRANO et al "Spiroxazmes and their use in photochromic lenses," published in Applied Photochromic Polymer Systems Publishers Blackie and Son Ltd , 1992 According to a vaπant of the invenUon, it is also possible to consider grafting the photocliromes onto (co)polymers Thus, another object of the invenUon consists of the (co)polymers grafted with at least one of the photocliromes descπbed above As examples of prefeπed polymer mateπals for opucal apphcauons of the photochromic compound according to the invenUon, one can menuon the following products - alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or arylalkyl poly(mono-, di-, tn-, tetra)acrylate or poIy(mono-, di-, tn-, tetra) methacrylate, opUonally halogenated or compπsing at least ether and/or ester and/or carbonate and or carbamate and/or thiocarbamate and/or urea and/or amide group, polystyrene, polycarbonate (e g , bisphenol A polycarbonate, polycarbonate of diallyl diethylene glycol), polyepoxy, polyurethane, polythiourethane, polysiloxane, polyacrylonitnle, polyanude, aliphatic or aromaUc polvester, vinyl polymers, cellulose acetate, cellulose tπacetatc cellulose acetate-propionate or polyvinylbutyral, - copolymers of two or more types of monomers or mixtures of the above-mentioned polymers, preferably polycarbonate-polyurethane, poly(meth)acrylate-polyurethane, polystyrene- poly(meth)acιylate or polystyrene-polyacrylonitnle, advantageously a mixture of polyester and/or polycarbonate or poly(meth)acrylate The quanUty of photochrome used depends on the desired degree of darkening In particular, it is used in a quanUty of 0 001-20 wt% The photochromic compounds according to the invenUon can be used alone or in a mixture with other products to form a composiUon that can be in solid or liquid form, for example, in a soluUon or in a dispersion, as has already been menUoned above These composiuons, which consUtute another object of the invenUon, can compπse one or more compounds (I) according to the invenUon and other complementary photochromic compounds wluch allow the obtenUon of dark coiorauons, for example, gray or brown, which the public desires in apphcauons such as ophthalmic or sun-protecUon eyewear These addiuonal photochromic compounds can be those known to a person skilled in the art and descπbed in the literature, for example, chromenes (U S Patent Nos 3,567,605 , 5,238,981, World Patent No 9,422,850, European Patent No 562,915), spiropyrans or naphthospiropvrans (U S Patent No 5,238,981) and spiroxazmes (CRANO et al , "Applied Photochromic Polymer Systems," Publishers Blackie & Son Ltd , 1992, Chapter 2) These composiuons according to the invenUon can also compπse - nonphotochromic dyes allowing the adjustment of the Unt, - and/or one or more stabilizers, such as, for example, an anuoxidant, - and/or one or more anU-UV screens, - and/or one or more anu [free] radical agents, - and/or deacUvators that deacUvate the states of photochemical excitaUon These addiuves can allow the improvement of the durability of said composiuons According to another one of its aspects pertaining to the apphcaUon of the photochromic compounds (I), the present invenUon also relates to ophthalmic articles, such as articles of ophthalmic or sun protecUon eyewear articles, compπsing at least one compound according to the invenUon and/or at least one (co)polymer formed, at least in part, of repeaUng umts deπved from compounds having formula (I), and or at least one composiuon compπsing compounds (I), according to the invenUon, as defined above, and/or at least one matnx, as defined above, made of an organic polymer mateπal or a mineral mateπal or a mineral-organic hybπd mateπal incorporaUng at least one compound of the invenUon In pracuce, the articles to which the present invenUon applies more particularly are photochromic ophthalmic or sun-protecuon lenses, glass paneling (glasses for buildings, for locomoUon devices, automobiles), opUcal devices, decoraUve articles, sun-protecUon articles, informaUon storage, etc The present invenUon will be better understood in the light of the following examples of synthesis and photochromic validauon of compounds having the general formula (I) EXAMPLES Synthesis and properties of photochromic compounds 1-9 according to the invenUon Example 1 Synthesis of compound (1), 2,2-bιs(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-7,9-dιmethoxy-[2H]-naphtlιo[ l,2- bjpyran Step 1 5,7-Dιmethoxy-3-methyl-l-naphthol is synthesized from N,N-dιethyl-3,5- dimethoxybenzamide and 3-bromo-2-methylpropene according to the method descπbed by Sibi et al (J Org Chem 1986, Vol 51, pp 271-273) The yield is approximately 50% Step 2 l,l-bιs(p-dιmethoxyphenyl)-2-propyn-l-ol is obtained by reacUng lithium acety de (diamine complex) with 4,4'-dιmethoxybenzophenone in DMSO followed by hydrolysis and extracUon with toluene The yield is quanutative Step 3 The compound obtained in step 1 (2 g) is reacted with that obtained in step 2 (2 23 g) in 30 mL of toluene in the presence of a catalvϋc quanUty of p-toluenesulfonic acid at 25°C for 2 h The medium is then washed with water containing 10% sodium bicarbonate, evaporated to dryness, and then the photochrome is separated by chromatography on a silica column using as eluant a heptane dnsopropyl ether mixture (70/30) In this manner 100 mg of compound (1) are obtained in the form of a white powder The Η NMR confirms the structure of the product Example 2 Synthesis of compound (2), 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-(3,4-ώmethoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-7,9-dιmethoxy- [2H]-naphtho [l,2-b]pyran Step 1 36 2 g of p-methoxybenzoyl chlonde are reacted with the Eq of 1,2-dιmethoxybenzene in the presence of 1 1 Eq of aluminum chlonde (added in aliquots) at 0°C in 300 mL of dichloromethane for 1 h The mixture is then poured into a mixture of 1 kg of ice and 800 mL of concentrated HCl The organic phase is decanted, and reduced to dryness In this manner, 53 g of 3,4,4'-tnmethoxybenzophenone are recovered Step 2 1 -(3 ,4-Dιmethoxyphenyl)- 1 -(4-methoxypheny l)-2-propyn- 1 -ol is prepared by reacUng 10 g of the ketone of the preceding step with 1 5 Eq of lithium acetylide at 20°C for 3 h The medium is then hydrolyzed in a water/ice mixture and the product is extracted with toluene and then dπed over magnesium sulfate After filtraUon and evaporaUon of the solvent, 10 4 g of the desired product are recovered Step 3 The compound (2) is then obtained in a manner similar to that used for compound (1) from 5,7-dιmethoxy-3-methyl-l-naphthol and the compound of the preceding step The structure of the compound is confirmed by NMR spectroscopy Example 3 Synthesis of compound (3), 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-(6-methoxv-2-naphthyl)-5-methyl-7,9-dιmethoxy- [2H] -naphtho[ 1 ,2-bJpyran Step 1 36 g of p-methoxybenzoyl chlonde are reacted with 1 Eq of 6-methoxy-2- bromonaphthalene magnesium in a solution in THF (soluUon prepared by reacUng the bromide with 1 5 Eq of magnesium, followed by filtraUon) at 0°C for 2 h The medium is then poured into a mixture of 300 g of ice and 50 mL of concentrated HCl The precipitate formed is recovered and washed with water (3 x 500 mL) After drying, 61 g of 2-(6-methoxynaphth-2-yl)-(4-methoxyphenyl) ketone are obtained Step 2 The deπvaUve 2-propyne-l-ol is prepared by reacung 5 g of the ketone from the preceding step with 1 5 Eq of lithium acetylide at 20°C in 30 mL of DMSO for 3 h The mixture is then hydrolyzed in a water/ice mixture and the product is extracted with toluene and then dπed over magnesium sulfate After filtraUon and evaporaUon of the solvent, 3 7 g of the desired product are recovered Step 3 The compound (3) is then obtained in a manner similar to that used for the compound (1) from 5,7-dιmethoxy-3-methyl-l-naphthol and the compound of the preceding step The structure of the compound is confirmed by NMR spectroscopy Example 4 Synthesis of compound (4), 2-(4-moφhohnophenyl)-2-phenyl-5-methy!-7,9-dιmethoxy-[2H]- naphtho[l,2-b]pyran Step 1 17 3 g of benzoyl chlonde and 20 g of phenyl morpholine are mixed in 200 mL of dichloromethane and the medium is cooled at 0°C 18 g of aluminum chlonde are added to it in portions over a peπod of approximately 30 mm After 1 h of sUrnng, the medium is poured into a mixture of 300 g of ice and 50 mL of concentrated HCl The medium is then neutralized with 20% soda and the product is extracted with dichloromethane (2 x 200 mL) The soluUon is then reduced to dryness, and then the product is crystallized in dusopropyl ether 9 g of 4-morpholιnobenzophenone are recovered Step 2 The deπvaUve 2-propyn-l-ol is prepared by reacUng 9 g of 4-morpholιnobenzophenone with 1 5 Eq of lithium acetylide at 20°C m 50 mL of DMSO for 2 h The medium is then hydrolyzed in a water/ice mixture and the product is extracted with dichloromethane, and then dπed over magnesium sulfate After filtraUon and evaporaUon of the solvent, the desired product is recovered with a quanutaUve yield Step 3 8 7 g of 5,7-dιmethoxy-3-methyl-l-naphthol are reacted with 11 5 g of the compound of the preceding step in 100 mL of xylene with reflux for 6 h The compound (4) is then purified by chromatography on a silica column using as eluant a heptane/ethyl acetate mixture (80/20) The structure of the compound is confirmed by NMR spectroscopy Example 5 Synthesis of compound (5), 2-(4-N,N- ιmethylamιnophenyl)-2-phenyl-5-methyl-7,9-dιmethoxy-f2H]- naphthof 1 ,2-b]pyτan Step 1 The deπvaUve 2-propyne-l-ol is prepared by reacUng 30 g of 4-(N,N- dιmethylamιno)benzophenone with 1 5 Eq of lithium acetylide as in step 2 of the preceding example Step 2 4 g of 5,7-dιmethoxy-3-methyl-l-naphthol and 5 85 g of the compound of the preceding step are reacted in 50 mL of toluene, with reflux for 3 h in the presence of a catalytic quanuty of chloroaceUc acid The medium is then washed with 40 mL of IN soda The compound is then purified by chromatography on an alumina column using as eluant dusopropyl ether After evaporaUon of the solvent, the solid is tπturated in 100 mL of heptane 1 6 g of compound (5) are recovered by filtraUon The structure of the compound is by NMR spectroscopy Example 6 Synthesis of compound (6), 2-(4-N,N-dιmethyamιnophenyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-7,9- dιmethoxy-[2H]-naphtho[l,2-b|pyran Step 1 28 g of p-anisoyl chlonde and 20 g of N,N-dιmethylanιhne are mixed in 150 mL of dichloromethane and the medium is cooled at 0°C 24 2 g of aluminum chlonde is added to the medium in portions over a peπod of approximately 30 nun After an addiUonal 30 nun of sUrnng at 20°C, the medium is poured into a mixture of 1 kg of ice and 800 mL of concentrated HCl ExtracUon is earned out with dichloromethane and the medium is then neutralized with 30% soda After decanUng, the organic phase is reduced to dryness, and then dissolved in 100 mL of dusopropyl ether with reflux for 30 min After one mght at ambient temperature, the soluUon is filtered and 8 6 g of 4-(N,N-dιmetJιylanuno)-4'-mcthoxybeπzophenone arc recovered Step 2 The deπvaUve 2-propyn-l-ol is prepared in a manner similar to the one used for the preceding compound The desired product is obtained in a quan tauve yield Step 3 The product of the preceding step is transformed into 4-methoxy-β-(N,N- dιmethylanιhne)cιnnamaldehyde by heaung at 50°C for 3 h in a mixture of 70 mL of aceUc acid and 5 mL of water The isolaUon of the product is earned out as follows, evaporaUon of the aceUc acid under a vacuum, dissolu on in toluene, washing m a 10% sodium bicarbonate soluUon, followed by evaporaUon to dryness In this manner, 9 g of the desired product are obtained Step 4 3 g of 5,7-dιmethoxy-3-methyl-l-naphthol are reacted with 3 76 g of Tι(OEt) 4 in 50 mL of toluene with reflux for 30 mm, and then 3 86 g of the compound of the preceding steps, dissolved in 50 mL of toluene, are added The mixture is maintained with reflux for 2 h The medium is then hydrolyzed with 40 mL of water and the organic phase is recovered Compound (6) is then purified by chromatography on an alumina column using as eluant a mixture of dusopropyl ether/ethyl acetate (90/10) followed by a crystalhzaUon in ethanol In this manner, 2 6 g of a cream-colored powder are obtained The structure of the compound is confirmed by NMR spectroscopy Example 7 Synthesis of compound (7), 2,2-bιs(4-N,N-dιmethylamιnophenyl)-5-methyI-7,9-dιmethoxy-[2H]- naphtho [l,2-b]pyran Step 1 The deπvaUve 2-propyn-l-ol is prepared in a manner similar to the one used from the preceding compound from 4,4'-bιsdιmethylamιnobenzophenone and lithium acetylide The desired product is recovered in a quanutative yield Step 2 2 g of 5,7-dιmethoxy-3-methyl-l-naphthol are reacted with 2 7 g of the compound of the preceding step in 50 mL of toluene with reflux for 3 h in the presence of a catalytic quanUty of chloroaceuc acid The medium is then washed with 40 mL of IN soda The compound is then purified by chromatography on an alumina column using dusopropyl ether as an eluant After evaporaUon of the solvent, the solid is tπturated in 100 mL of heptane In this manner, 0 3 g of compound (7) are recovered by filtraUon The structure of the compound is confirmed by NMR spectroscopy Example 8 Synthesis of compound (8), 2-(4-N,N-dιethylamιnophenyl)-2-(4-methylphenyl)-5-methyl-7,9- dιmethoxy-[2H]-naphtho[ 1 ,2-b]pyran Step 1 22 8 g of p-toluoyl chlonde and 20 g of N,N-dιethylanιhne are mixed in 150 mL of dichloromethane and the medium is cooled to 0°C 19 7-g of aluminum chlonde are added in portions to the medium over a peπod of approximately 30 nun After 1 addiUonal h of sUrπng at 20°C, the medium is poured into a mixture of 400 g of ice and 100 mL of concentrated HCl The extracUon is earned out with dichloromethane, followed by neutralizauon of the medium with IN soda After decanUng, the organic phase is reduced to dryness and then redissolved in 200 mL of heptane with reflux After 1 h at ambient temperature, the soluUon is filtered, and 10 5 g of 4-(N,N-dιethylamιno)-4'-methoxybenzophenone are recovered Step 2 The denvaUve 2-propyne-l-ol is prepared in a manner similar to the one used for the preceding compound, and the desired product is recovered with a quanUtaUve yield Step 3 The product of the preceding step is transformed into 4-(N,N-dιethylamιno)-β(4- methoxyphenyl)cιnnamaldehyde by heaUng at 50°C for 1 h in a mixture of aceUc acid/water as in step 3 of the synthesis of compound (6) Step 4 1 48 g of 5,7-dιmethoxy-3-methyl-l-naphthol are reacted with 1 9 g of Tι(OEt)„ in 50 mL of toluene with reflux for 30 nun, and then 2 g of the compound of the preceding step, which has first been dissolved in 25 mL of toluene, are added The mixture is maintained with reflux for 1 h with azeotropic disUllaUon of water through a Dean Stark condenser The medium is then hydrolyzed with 40 mL of water, and the orgamc phase is recovered Compound (8) is then purified by chromatography on an alumina column using as eluant, dusopropyl ether followed by the crystallization in ethanol In this manner, 0 8 g of powder is obtained The structure of the compound is then confirmed by NMR spectroscopy Example 9 Synthesis of compound (9), 2-0ulolιdιn-9-yl)-2-phenyI-5-methyl-7,9-ώmethoxy-[2H]-naphtho{l,2- b]pyran Step 1 8 11 g of benzoyl chlonde and 10 g of julo dine are mixed in 100 mL of dichloromethane and the medium is cooled to 0°C 8 5-g of aluminum chlonde are added in portions added to the medium over a penod of approximately 30 nun After an addiuonal 2 h of surπng at 20°C, the medium is poured into a mixture of 400 g of ice and 100 mL of concentrated HCl ExtracUon is earned out with dichloromethane and the medium is then neutralized with IN soda After decanUng, the organic phase is reduced to dryness, and then redissolved in 200 mL of heptane with reflux After 1 h at ambient temperature, the soluUon is filtered, and 5 5 g of phenyl julohdinyl ketone are recovered Step 2 The deπvaUve 2-propyne-l-ol is prepared in a manner similar to the one used for the preceding compound, and the desired product is recovered with a quanUtaUve yield Step 3 The product of the preceding step is transformed into β-julohdinc cinnamaldehyde by heating it at 50°C for 1 h in a mixture of aceUc acid/water as in step 3 of the synthesis of compound (6) Step 4 0 68 g of 5,7-dιmethoxy-3-methyl-l-naphthol are reacted with 0 85 g of Tι(OEt) 4 in 50 mL of toluene with reflux for 30 min, and then 0 94 g of the compound of the preceding step, which has first been dissolved in 25 mL of toluene, is added The mixture is maintained with reflux for 2 h with azeotropic disullauon of water through a Dean Stark condenser The medium is then hydrolyzed with 40 mL of water, and the organic phase is recovered Compound (9) is then purified by chromatography on a column of alumina using a mixture of dusopropyl ether THF (85/15) as eluant followed by a ciystallizaUon in ethanol 80 mg of a powder are obtained The structure of the compound is confirmed by NMR spectroscopy Example 10 IncoφoraUon of the compounds in a polyacrylate General procedure 10 4 mol of each one of the compounds are dissolved in 100 g of tetraethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate (marketed under the name DIACRYL 121 by the company AKZO) also contaimng 40 mg of 2,2'-azobιs(2-methylbutyronιtπle) The soluUon is then degassed, rendered inert with argon, and then it is poured into a lens-shaped glass mold having a diameter of 8 cm and a thickness of 2 mm The mold is then placed in an oven at 70°C for 12 h After removal from the mold, a transparent and πgid lens is obtained Under solar madiaUon, the glass rapidly develops a purple or intense blue coloration and it again becomes colorless in darkness. The photochromic characteristics are given in Table I below. After 15 min of exposure to a Xenon lamp, the UV-visible spectrum is recorded, and the λmax values of the two principal bands and their absorbances by Induced Optical Density (IOD) are measured. The absorbances are also measured :_ t ιcr a 5-min discoloration in darkness. Structures of compounds 1-9 according to the invention and of Comparative Example Cl. QDrtpound ( 1 ) Ctarrrpound ( 2 ) Coπpound ( 3 ) Coπ * pound ( " ) Coπpovuid ( 5 ) Compound < 6 J Cornpound ( 9 ) Table I ♦ Described in Research Disclosure No. 36 144. The results clearly demonstrate that the compounds of the invention have higher λmax values (550-610 nm for the second band and 440-518 nm for the second band), and most of them display much higher induced optical density compared to compound Cl, having no methoxy groups on the naphthyl ring of the naphthopyran. In addition, it has been observed that the UV λmax of the compounds according to the invention have undergone a bathochromic shift of approximately 7 nm in comparison to compound Cl (382 nm versus 365 nm for compound Cl). This shift consequently allows a better sensitivity to the UV radiation of the solar spectrum.

Claims: 16 1 Compounds having the following general formula (I) in which - Rl, R2, R4 and R6 are idenucal or different and they represent, independently • hydrogen, • a halogen, • a linear or branched alkyl group compπsing 1-12 carbon atoms • a cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl group compπsing 3 to 12 carbon atoms, a linear or branched alkoxy group compπsing 1-12 carbon atoms, a linear or branched haloalkyl or haloalkoxy group compnsing 1-6 carbon atoms, a linear or branched alkenyl or alkynyl group compnsing 1-12 carbon atoms, a methacryloyl group or an acryloyl group, • an epoxy group having the formula o — (CH,)n — "<- ' in which n = 1, 2 or 3, an aryl or aryloxyl group, whose aryl group compπses 6-24 carbon atoms, or a heteroaryl or heteroaryloxy group whose heteroaryl group compπses 4-24 carbon atoms and at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisUng of sulfur, oxygen and mtrogen, the aryl or heteroaryl group opUonally subsututed by at least one subsutuent selected from - a halogen, - a linear or branched alkyl group compnsing 1-6 carbon atoms, - a linear or branched alkoxy group compπsing 1-6 carbon atoms, - a linear or branched haloalkyl or haloalkoxy group compπsing 1-6 carbon atoms, - an -NH 2 group, - an NHR group, where R represents a linear or branched alkyl group compπsing 1-6 carbon atoms, - a NR'R" group, where R' and R", which may be idenucal or different, independently represent a linear or branched alkyl group compπsing 1-6 carbon atoms or tJiey represent, together with the mtrogen atom to which they are bound, a 5-7-member πng which can compπse at least one other heteroatom selected from the group of oxygen, sulfur and mtrogen, said mtrogen being opUonally subsututed by a linear or branched alkyl group compπsing 1-6 carbon atoms, • an aralkyl or heteroalkyl group whose linear or branched alkyl group compnses 1-4 carbon atoms and whose aryl and heteroaryl groups are as defined above, • an -NH 2> -NHR, NR'R", CONH 2 , CONHR or CONR'R" group, where R, R' and R" are as defined above, • an OCOR'or COOR' group, where R' represents a linear or branched alkyl group comprising 1-6 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl group comprising 3-12 carbon atoms or an aryl or heteroaryl group as defined above, • a polyether, polyamide, polycarbonate, polycarbamate, polyurea or polyester residue; R7 and R8 are identical or different and they represent independently: ■ a linear or branched alkyl group comprising 1-12 carbon atoms, • a cycloalkyl group comprising 3-12 carbon atoms, - an aryl or heteroaryl group as defined above for Rl, R2, R4 and R6, • the julolidin-9-yl group, or • the two groups R7 and R8 together form an adamantyl, πorbornyl, fluorenylidene or di(Cl-C6 alkyl)anthracenylidene or spiro(C5-C6 cycloalkyI)anthracenylidene group; characterized in that R3 and R5 are identical or different and they each represent a linear or branched alkoxy group comprising 1-6 carbon atoms. 2. Compounds according to Claim 1, characterized in that R3 and R5 are methoxy groups. 3. Compounds according to Claim 1, characterized in that Rl, R2, R4 and R6 are hydrogen atoms or linear or branched alkyl groups comprising 1-6 carbon atoms. 4. Compounds according to Claim 1, characterized in that they have the following structures (II) and (12) in which R7 and R8 are as defined in Claim 1. 5. Compounds according to Claim 1, characterized in that R7 and R8 are aryl or heteroaryl groups selected from the group consisting of phenyl, naphthyl, biphenyl, pyridyl, furyl, benzofuryl, dibenzofiiryl, N(C1-C6 alkyl)carbazole, thienyl, benzothienyl or dibenzothienyl groups, optionally substituted by at least one C1-C5 alkoxy, C1-C5 alkyl, C2-C12 amine, C6-C12 aryl, or CF 3 group. 6. Compound according to Claim 1, characterized in that Rl, R2, R4 and R6 are identical or different and they represent, independently hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or bromine, a linear or branched alkyl group comprising 1-12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl group comprising 3 to 12 carbon atoms, a linear or branched alkoxy group comprising 1-12 carbon atoms, a linear or branched fluoroalkyl group comprising 1-6 cartoon atoms, a vinyl or allyl group, a methacryloyl group or an acryloyl group, an epoxy group having the formula o— (CH,)π—— <-^ ι in which 1, 2 or 3, an aryl or aryloxyl group, whose aryl group comprises 6-24 carbon atoms, or a heteroaryl or heteroaryloxyl group whose heteroaryl group comprises 4-24 carbon atoms and at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of sulfur, oxygen and nitrogen, the aryl or heteroaryl group being optionally substituted by at least one substituent selected from: - fluorine, chlorine or bromine, - a linear or branched alkyl group comprising 1-6 carbon atoms, - a linear or branched alkoxy group comprising 1-6 carbon atoms, - a linear or branched fluoroalkyl group comprising 1-6 carbon atoms, - an -NH 2 group, - a NHR group, where R represents a linear or branched alkyl group comprising 1-6 carbon atoms, - a NR'R" group, where R' and R", which may be identical or different, independently represent a linear or branched alkyl group comprising 1-6 carbon atoms or they represent together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound a 5-7-member ring that comprise at least one other heteroatom selected from the group of oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, said nitrogen being optionally substituted by a linear or branched alkyl group comprising 1-6 carbon atoms, • an aralkyl or heteroalkyl group whose linear or branched alkyl group comprises 1-4 carbon atoms and whose aryl and heteroaryl groups are as defined above, • a -NH 2 , -NHR, NR'R", CONH 2 , CONHR or CONR'R" group, where R, R' and R" are as defined above, • an OCOR'or COOR" group, where R' represents a linear or branched alkyl group comprising 1-6 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl group comprising 3-12 carbon atoms or an aryl or heteroaryl group as defined above, ■ a polyether, polyamide, polycarbonate, polycarbamate, polyurea or polyester residue; 19 7. Compounds according to Claim 1, characterized in that they have photochromic properties. 8. Compounds according to any one of Claim 7, characterized in that the groups Rl, R2, R4, R6, R7 and R8 of formulas (I), (II) and (12) according to the invention comprise and/or form at least one polymerizable and or crosslinkable reactive group, selected from the following: alkenyl, methacryloyl, acryloyl, acryloxyalkyl, methacryloxyalkyl and epoxy. 9. (Co)polymer and/or crosslinked compound obtained by polymerization and/or crosslinking of at least one monomer consisting of at least one compound according to Claim 8. 10. Photochromic composition, characterized in that it comprises: - at least one compound according to Claim 7 and/or at least one (co)polymer according to Claim 8, - and, optionally, at least one other photochromic compound and/or at least one dye and/or at least one stabilizer. 11. (Co)polymer matrix, characterized in that it comprises at least one compound according to any one of Claims 1-9. 12. (Co)polymer matrix, characterized in that it comprises at least one compound according to Claim 10. 13. Matrix according to Claim 11, characterized in that the (co)polymer is selected from the following: - alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or arylalkyl poly(mono-, di-, tri-, tetra)acrylate or poly(mono-, di-, tri-, tetra)methacrylate, optionally halogenated or comprising at least ether and/or ester and/or carbonate and/or carbamate and or thiocarbamate and/or urea and or amide group; polystyrene, polycarbonate (e.g., bisphenol A polycarbonate, polycarbonate of diallyl diethylene glycol), polyepoxy, polyurethane, polythiourethane, polysiloxane, polyaαylonitrile, polyamide, aliphatic or aromatic polyester, vinyl polymers, cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, cellusose acetate-propionate or polyvinylbutyral, - copolymers of two or more types of monomer or mixtures of the above-mentioned polymers. 14. Ophthalmic or sun-protection article comprising at least one compound according to Claims 1-8. 15. Ophthalmic or sun-protection article comprising at least one copolymer according to Claim 9. 16. Ophthalmic or sun-protection article comprising at least one photochromic composition according to Claim 10. 17. Article according to Claim 14, characterized in that it consists of a lens. 18. Paneling and/or optical device comprising at least one compound according to Claims 1-8. 19. Paneling and or optical device comprising at least one (co)polymer according to Claim 9. 20. Paneling and/or optical device comprising at least one photochromic composition according to Claim 10. 21. Paneling and or optical device comprising at least one matrix according to Claim 11 or 12.

Inventors: BRYSON NATHAN, CHAN YOU-PING, BRYSON, NATHAN, CHAN, YOU-PING
Applicants: BRYSON NATHAN, CHAN YOU PING, CORNING INC, BRYSON, NATHAN, CHAN, YOU-PING, CORNING INCORPORATED
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G02B5
IPC codes: C07D311, C07D455, G02B5, G02C7