Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of preparing fused ring indeno compounds that involves reacting together a dienophile and a lactone compound, in the presence of a catalyst, and a carboxylic acid anhydride.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making fused ring compounds, such as indeno-fused naphthols, and fused ring indenopyran compounds, such as indeno-fused naphthopyrans, that each employ an unsaturated compound represented by the following Formula II. Referring to the unsaturated compound of Formula II: Ring-A can be selected from optionally substituted aryl (e.g., phenyl); m can be, for example, from 0 to 4; R1 for each m can be selected from optionally substituted hydrocarbyl (e.g., C1-C6 alkyl) optionally interrupted with at least one linking group (e.g., —O—); and R3 and R16 can each be independently selected from, for example, hydrogen or optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, such as C1-C8 alkyl. When Ring-A is a phenyl group, the unsaturated compound represented by Formula II can be referred to as an unsaturated indanone acid/ester compound, or an indenone acid/ester compound (depending on whether R16 is hydrogen, or an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group).

Abstract: The present invention relates to indeno-fused naphthopyrans, and in particular indeno[2?,3?:3,4]naphtho[1,2-b]pyrans having certain groups bonded to the 3, 6, 7, 11, and 13 positions thereof. The indeno-fused naphthopyrans of the present invention have an ethylenically unsaturated group selected from (C1-C6 alkyl)acrylate and (C1-C6 alkyl)acrylamide, that is linked to the 11 position or 13 position thereof. The present invention also relates to photochromic articles and photochromic compositions containing such indeno-fused naphthopyrans.

Abstract: Provided is an oriented polymeric sheet comprising a photochromic-dichroic material, wherein the sheet exhibits dichroism in an activated state. Also provided is a multilayer composite comprising at least a support layer; and an oriented thermoplastic polymeric sheet having two opposing surfaces and comprising a photochromic-dichroic material. The sheet exhibits dichroism in an activated state. At least one surface of the sheet is connected to at least a portion of the support layer. The present invention also relates to an optical element comprising the multilayer composite. Related methods also are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making indeno-fused naphthol materials, that involves, with some embodiments, forming an indanone acid intermediate, represented by the following general Formula V, With Formula V, m is from 0 to 4, and R1 for each m, Rg and Rh can each be independently selected from, for example, hydrogen and hydrocarbyl.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photochromic indeno-fused ring pyran compounds represented by the following Formula (I-A): The present invention also relates to photochromic dichroic compounds, such as represented by Formula (I-A), in which (i) Z2 is a group N—R13 in which R13 is a group L, and (ii) optionally at least one R1 independently for each n is selected from a group L, in which the group L independently in each case is a lengthening group that provides the photochromic compound with dichroic properties, in accordance with some embodiments. The present invention also relates to photochromic articles, such as photochromic ophthalmic articles, that include one or more photochromic compounds according to the present invention, such as represented by Formula (I-A).

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of preparing fused ring indeno compounds that involves reacting together a dienophile and a lactone compound, in the presence of a catalyst, and a carboxylic acid anhydride.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photochromic indeno-fused ring pyran compounds represented by the following Formula (I-A): The present invention also relates to photochromic dichroic compounds, such as represented by Formula (I-A), in which (i) Z2 is a group N—R13 in which R13 is a group L, and (ii) optionally at least one R1 independently for each n is selected from a group L, in which the group L independently in each case is a lengthening group that provides the photochromic compound with dichroic properties, in accordance with some embodiments. The present invention also relates to photochromic articles, such as photochromic ophthalmic articles, that include one or more photochromic compounds according to the present invention, such as represented by Formula (I-A).

Abstract: The present invention relates to intermediate compounds represented by the following Formula (I-A), The intermediate compounds of the present invention, such as represented by Formula (I-A), can be used to prepare photochromic compounds, such as photochromic fused ring indenopyran compounds, including but not limited to photochromic fused ring indeno-naphtho-pyran compounds.

Abstract: Described herein are compounds generally comprising an indeno[2?,3?:3,4]naptho[1,2-b]pyran structure. Such compounds may be useful for their photochromic properties, and be used in certain photochromic compositions. Such compositions may further comprise other photochromic compositions and/or materials. Additionally, such compounds and/or compositions may be suitable for preparing certain photochromic articles. Also described herein are methods for preparing certain photochromic compounds, compositions, and articles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photochromic materials that include one or more indeno-fused naphthopyrans that have particular groups at the 7, 11, and 13 positions thereof, and at the position alpha to the oxygen of the pyran ring thereof. With some embodiments, hydrogen or an alkoxy group is bonded to the 7 position, an optionally substituted phenyl is bonded to the 11 position, two alkyl groups are bonded to the 13 position, and two optionally substituted phenyl groups are bonded to the position alpha to the oxygen of the pyran ring of the indeno-fused naphthopyran compound. The 13 position of the indeno-fused naphthopyrans is free of ether groups in which an ether oxygen is bonded to the 13 position, and hydroxyl. The present invention also relates to photochromic articles and compositions that include such indeno-fused naphthopyrans.

Abstract: The present invention relates to intermediate compounds represented by the following Formula (I-A), The intermediate compounds of the present invention, such as represented by Formula (I-A), can be used to prepare photochromic compounds, such as photochromic fused ring indenopyran compounds, including but not limited to photochromic fused ring indeno-naphtho-pyran compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to naphthopyran compounds that include at least one compound represented by the following Formulas (I), (II), and (III): With reference to Formulas (I), (II), and (III), there is the proviso that: (i) at least one R1 is a group L; and/or (ii) B and/or B? is substituted with at least one group L. The group L can be described as a lengthening group. The present invention also relates to photochromic-dichroic naphthopyran compounds and photochromic-dichroic articles containing such compounds.

Abstract: Photochromic-dichroic articles are provided, which include a substrate having a first surface, a fixed-polarized layer over the first surface of the substrate, and a photochromic-dichroic layer over the first surface of the substrate. The fixed-polarized layer optionally includes a fixed-colorant and has a first polarization axis. The photochromic-dichroic layer includes a photochromic-dichroic compound that is laterally aligned within the photochromic-dichroic layer, and which defines a second polarization axis. The first polarization axis and the second polarization axis are oriented relative to each other at an angle of greater than 0° and less than or equal to 90°. The photochromic-dichroic articles can provide, for example, increased optical density and/or increased kinetics when exposed to a given amount of actinic radiation.

Abstract: Various photochromic materials are provided that are essentially free of polymerizable unsaturated groups, and comprise: a) an indeno[2?,3?:3,4]naphtho[1,2-b]pyran; and b) an electron-withdrawing, non-conjugating group bonded at the 11-position of the indeno[2?,3?:3,4]naphtho[1,2-b]pyran. Alternative embodiments include various substituents at other positions of the indeno[2?,3?:3,4]naphtho[1,2-b]pyran.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical elements, such as but not limited to ophthalmic elements, comprising an alignment facility for an optical dye. The optical elements include a substrate; and an alignment facility for an optical dye connected to at least a portion of the substrate, where the alignment facility is an at least partial coating of an at least partially ordered liquid crystal material having at least a first general direction.

Abstract: Described herein are compounds generally comprising an indeno[2?,3?:3,4]naptho[1,2-b]pyran structure. Such compounds may be useful for their photochromic properties, and be used in certain photochromic compositions. Such compositions may further comprise other photochromic compositions and/or materials. Additionally, such compounds and/or compositions may be suitable for preparing certain photochromic articles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making indeno-fused naphthol materials, that involves, with some embodiments, forming an indanone acid intermediate, represented by the following general Formula V, With Formula V, m is from 0 to 4, and R1 for each m, Rg and Rh can each be independently selected from, for example, hydrogen and hydrocarbyl.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound represented by the Formula I: wherein substituents R16 and R17? are each independently selected from an electron withdrawing group have a Hammett ?p value of from 0.05 to 0.85 and R17 is hydrogen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photochromic articles that include a substrate and at least one photochromic material that is adapted to change from an unactivated form to an activated form by exposure to radiation substantially in the wavelength range from 380 to 450 nanometers when measured over a range of from 380 to 700 nanometers. The photochromic article is also adapted to retain at least 12 percent of the delta OD measured in the Outdoor Test when tested in the Behind the Windshield Test. The photochromic material can be selected from certain compounds including, for example, fluoranthenoxazines, naphthopyrans, phenanthropyrans, fluoranthenopyrans, and indenonaphthopyrans, which each have bonded thereto at least one chiral or achiral lengthening group that provides the photochromic compound with dichroic properties. The present invention also relates to methods of forming a photochromic article.