Photochromic material

A stable photochromic dye, comprising:

• at least two photo-reactive groups including:
• a first photo-reactive group including a first conjugation system reversibly formed in response to radiation having a first wavelength, the first conjugation system exhibiting a first conjugation bond length;
• and a second photo-reactive group including a second conjugation system reversibly formed in response to radiation having a second wavelength, the second conjugation system exhibiting a second conjugation bond length that is longer than the first conjugation bond length;
• wherein, the at least two photo-reactive groups are coupled to one another by a non-conjugated linkage selected from the group consisting of C1-12 alkylene, C1-12 heteroalkylene, C1-12 alkoxy, C1-6 alkylenoxy, C1-6 alkylenedioxy, C1-6 phenyleneoxy, and C1-12 phenylenedioxy;
• wherein, the first photo-reactive group and second photo-reactive group are independently at least one structure selected from the group consisting of Formula I and II:
• wherein, R1 to R15 independently represent hydrogen, a halogen, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-12 alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-12 alkoxy, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-12 alkenyl, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-12 conjugated alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group or the substituents together form an alkylene or alkenylene chain completing an aryl group.

A stable photochromic composition, comprising:

• at least one material selected from the group consisting of a polymer, an oligomer, and a monomer;
• and at least one photochromic dye incorporated into at least a portion of the at least one material, the at least one photochromic dye having at least two photo-reactive groups that are coupled to one another, wherein the at least one photochromic dye includes:
• a first photo-reactive group configured to undergo a first reversible photochromic reaction in response to radiation having a first wavelength;
• and a second photo-reactive group configured to undergo a second reversible photochromic reaction in response to radiation having a second wavelength;
• wherein, the at least two photo-reactive groups are coupled to one another by a non-conjugated linkage selected from the group consisting of C1-12 alkylene, C1-12 heteroalkylene, C1-12 alkoxy, C1-6 alkylenoxy, C1-6 alkylenedioxy, C1-6 phenyleneoxy, and C1-12 phenylenedioxy;
• wherein, the first photo-reactive group and second photo-reactive group are independently at least one structure selected from the group consisting of Formula I and II:
• wherein, R1 to R15 independently represent hydrogen, a halogen, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-12 alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-12 alkoxy, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-12 alkenyl, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-12 conjugated alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group or the substituents together form an alkylene or alkenylene chain completing an aryl group.