Photochemical study of electrocyclization of 4-aryl-5-hetarylimidazolones for information optical recording

Irreversible photocyclization of 4-(het)aryl-5-(β-hydroxyvinyl) imidazolone derivatives into fused polycyclic structures proceeds with elimination of water molecule. A relationship between quantum yields, spectral characteristics and the structures of starting materials and cyclization products has been established. The results obtained are of interest in creation of optical recording media with fluorescent readout of the written information.