Light-controlled molecular switches based on bistable spirocyclic organic and coordination compounds

Modern concepts of mechanisms of thermal and photochemical rearrangements responsible for the photochromic properties of spiropyrans, spirooxazines, spiroperimidines and metal bis(chelate) complexes have been considered. The most important applications of spiropyrans and spirooxazines as light-controlled molecular switches of physical and biological properties of hybrid molecular and supramolecular structures and macroscopic materials have been discussed. The bibliography includes 185 references.