Polymerisable photochromic naphthacenediones, polymers of these monomers, process for their preparation and the use thereof

A compound of formula I and/or II ##STR10## wherein D is H or --OR wherein R is unsubstituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.14 aryl or C.sub.6 -C.sub.14 aryl which is substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkylsulfinyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkylsulfonyl, phenyl, benzyl, phenylsulfinyl, benzylsulfinyl, phenylsulfonyl, benzylsulfonyl, --CN, --CF.sub.3, halogen, --SO.sub.3 R.sub.7, --CO-R.sub.7, --CO.sub.2 R.sub.7, --CON(R.sub.8).sub.2, --N(R.sub.8).sub.2, or a group of formula III, with the proviso that both or D are not H;

• R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently of the other H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkylsulfinyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkylsulfonyl, phenyl, benzyl, phenylthio, benzylthio, phenylsulfinyl, benzylsulfinyl, phenylsulfonyl, benzylsulfonyl, --CN, --CF.sub.3, halogen, --SO.sub.3 R.sub.7, --CO.sub.2 R.sub.7, --CO.sub.2 R.sub.7, --CON(R.sub.8).sub.2 --N(R.sub.8).sub.2 ;
• or a group of formula III;
• R.sub.7 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, phenyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkylphenyl, benzyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkylbenzyl;
• and
• the R.sub.8 substituents are each independently of the other H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, phenyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkylphenyl, benzyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkylbenzyl, or one R.sub.8 is H and the other R.sub.8 is the --CO-R.sub.9 group, wherein R.sub.9 independently has the meaning of R.sub.7, or both R.sub.8 substituents, taken together, are tetramethylene, pentamethylene, 3-oxa-1,5-pentylene or the radical of formula --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -N(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl)CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, with the proviso that one and only one group of formula III
• E--CR.sub.5 =C(R.sub.6).sub.2 (III)
• is present wherein E is a direct bond or --X-C(O)-- wherein X is a linking group having the formula --R.sub.27 --O--, --R.sub.27 NR.sub.10 --, --O--R.sub.27 --O--, --CO--O--R.sub.27 --O--, --CO--O--R.sub.27 --NR.sub.10 --, --CO--NR.sub.10 --R.sub.27 --O--, or --CO--NR.sub.10 --R.sub.27 --NR.sub.10, where R.sub.27 is linear or branched C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 alkylene and R.sub.10 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, phenyl or benzyl, and R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are each independently of the other H, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl or C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aryl.