Properties and Applications of Indolinooxazolidines as Photo-, Electro-, and Acidochromic Units

The aim of this chapter was to introduce the readers to indolinooxazolidines (IndOxa), a new family of molecular switches. First, in a short historical account their evolution is followed from their first appearance in the 1970s until today. The second section concentrates on the general structural features of the indolinooxazolidine motif, which are closely related to those of the spiropyrans. In the core of their chemistry lies the oxazolidine ring opening that is discussed in the following. Owing to the facility of the very same ring opening, they show chromophoric properties and can be addressed using different stimuli, such as light irradiation, change in electrical potential and pH. For this reason, the last three sections are devoted to provide a general understanding on their photo-, electro-, and acidochromic properties.