Patent ID: 7326526

Claim:
A substantially monolayer thick molecular film comprising self assembled molecules of the general formula (I): R 1 —M—R 2 (X) m R 3 R 4 , wherein, R 1 represents a photochromic molecule coordinated to M; M represents a transition metal atom substantially of oxidation state Y a lanthanide metal atom substantially of oxidation state Z or a lead (Pb) atom of oxidation state IV; Y represents oxidation state I, II, III, IV, V, or VI; Z represents oxidation state I, II, III, IV, V, or VI; R 2 represents an unsubstituted heterocyclic group coordinated to M, a substituted heterocyclic group coordinated to M, or a substituted aryl group coordinated to M (wherein the substituted aryl group is substituted with one or of more oxygen, nitrogen or oxygen and nitrogen containing substituents from the substituent group A); the dashed line represents the coordination of one or more donor atoms to M; X represents a —NH—, —O—, or —S—; m represents 0 or 1; R 3 represents an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, halogen, hydroxyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, arylcarbonyloxy, alkoxycarbonyloxy, aryloxycarbonyloxy, carboxylate, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, dialkylaminocarbonyl, alkylthiocarbonyl, alkoxyl, phosphate, phosphonato, phosphinato, cyano, amino (including alkyl amino, dialkylamino, arylamino, diarylamino, and alkylarylamino), acylamino (including alkylcarbonylamino, arylcarbonylamino, carbamoyl and ureido), amidino, imino, sulfhydryl, alkylthio, arylthio, thiocarboxylate, sulfates, alkylsulfinyl, sulfonato, sulfamoyl, sulfonamido, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, azido, heterocyclic, alkylaryl, an aromatic or heteroaromatic group, and combinations thereof; R 4 represents a bond, —O—,—S—, —P—, —CH 2 —, —OSi(OR 5 ) 2 or —OSiCl 2 —; R 5 represents an alkyl; and substituent group A comprises an alkoxyl group, an amide group, an amino group, a carbonyl group, a carboxyl group, a hydroxyl group, and a heterocyclic group.