Synthesis and photoresponsive behavior of optically active methacrylic homopolymers containing side-chain spiropyran chromophores

In the presence of acid, these systems can be used to modulate the protonation of polymeric azopyridine moieties upon photoisomerization of the spiropyran group. In addition to UV-Vis spectroscopy, the proton transfer process occurring between the macromolecular components can be also followed by CD spectroscopy, the system thus behaving as a chiroptical switch.