Photochromic polymer and composition comprising photochromic polymer

1. A photochromic polymer having the formula II

(PC 1 ) x -L 1 -(Si(R 1 ) 2 O) n Si(R 1 ) 2 -L 2 -(PC 2 ) y   (II)

wherein

L 1 and L 2 are independently selected from a bond and linker groups;

PC 1 and PC 2 are independently selected photochromic groups:

n is from 2 to 80;

x is at least 1;

y is at least 1; and

R 1 is selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl, aryl and mixtures thereof.

2. The photochromic polymer according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 is methyl.

3. The photochromic polymer according to claim 1 , wherein n is from 4 to 50.

4. The photochromic polymer according to claim 1 , wherein L 1 and L 2 are independently selected from a bond and linker groups independently selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur, amino and mono-C 1 -C 6 alkylamino, substituted alkylene and poly(substituted alkylene) and a polyradical comprising at least one of the groups of formula IIIa through to IIIp:

wherein in the formula IIIa to IIIp:

X which may be the same or different is selected from the group consisting of oxygen and sulfur;

R″ is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkoxy, amino and substituted amino;

R 11 is selected from the group consisting of C 2 -C 4 alkylene, (C 1 -C 4 alkylene)oxy(C 1 -C 4 alkylene) and phenylene;

n is an integer from 1 to 3;

w is an integer from 1 to 4;

q which when there is more than one may be the same or different is an integer from 0 to 15;

p which when there is more than one may be the same or different is 0 or 1; and

(R) shows the radial for attachment of siloxane oligomer R.

5. The photochromic polymer according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of L 1 and L 2 is the linker of formula:

a-(X) p C(═O)R 11 C(═O)(X) p (C 2 -C 4 alkyleneoxy) q (C 1 -C 20 alkylene)-b

wherein:

a is the photochromic bonded end of the linker; and

b is the siloxane oligomer bonded end of the linker;

p which may be the same or different, is 0 or 1;

X is oxygen or sulfur;

q is from 0 to 5; and

R 11 is selected from the group consisting of C 2 -C 4 alkylene and (C 1 -C 2 alkylene)oxy(C 2 -C 4 alkylene).

6. The photochromic polymer according to claim 5 , having the formula:

(PC 1 )—(X) p C(═O)R 11 (C═O)(X) p (C 2 -C 4 alkyleneoxy) q (C 1 -C 20 alkylene)-(Si(R) 2 O) n Si(R) 2 —(C 1 -C 20 alkylene)(oxyC 2 -C 4 alkylene)(X) p C(═O)R 11 C(═O)(X) p —(PC 2 )

and wherein R 11 are independently selected.

7. The photochromic polymer according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises at least two photochromic groups selected from the group consisting of:

chromenes selected from the group consisting of naphthopyrans, benzopyrans, indenonaphthopyrans and phenanthropyrans;

spiropyrans selected from the group consisting of spiro(benzindoline), spiro(indoline)benzopyrans, spiro(indoline)-naphthopyrans, spiroquinopyrans, spiro(indoline)pyrans and spirodihydroindolizines; and

spiro-oxazines selected from the group consisting of spiro(indoline)naphthoxazines, spiro(indoline)pyridobenzoxazines, spiro(benzindoline)pyridobenzoxazines, spiro(benzindoline)naphthoxazines and spiro(indoline)benzoxazines.

8. The photochromic polymer according to claim 1 , wherein PC 1 and PC 2 are independently selected from the groups of:

spiro-oxazines of formula VIII:

where A is

and B is selected from the group consisting of

wherein

R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 20 and R 21 are independently selected from the group consisting of

hydrogen, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloarylalkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, alkyleneoxyalkyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aryl, arylalkyl, aryloxy, alkylenethioalkyl, acyl, acyloxy, amino, cyano and NR 16 R 17 wherein R 16 and R 17 are each selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an alkoxy group and an allyl each of which may be substituted and where R 16 and R 17 may be bonded and cyclized with each other to form a nitrogen containing heterocyclic ring; and

L is the point of attachment of the linker group in the compound of formula II; and naphthopyrans of formula XX(a)

wherein

B and B′ are optionally substituted aryl and heteroaryl; and

R 22 , R 23 and R 24 are independently selected from hydrogen; halogen; C 1 -C 3 alkyl; and the group of formula COW wherein W is OR 25 , NR 26 R 27 , piperidino or morpholino wherein R 25 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, phenyl, (C 1 -C 6 alkyl)phenyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyphenyl, phenyl C 1 -C 6 alkyl (C 1 -C 6 alkoxy)phenyl and C 1 -C 6 alkoxy C 2 -C 4 alkyl; R 26 and R 27 are each selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 5 -C 7 cycloalkyl, phenyl, phenyl substituted with one or two groups selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 1 -C 6 alkoxy; R 22 and R 23 may optionally form a carbocylic ring of 5 or 6 ring members optionally fused with an optionally substituted benzene and wherein at least one of the substituents selected from the group of substituents consisting of B and B′, R 22 , R 23 , R 24 , R 25 , R 26 and R 27 is the point of attachment of the linker group in the compound of formula II.

9. The photochromic polymer according to claim 1 , wherein PC 1 and PC 2 are independently selected from the group of formula XX(b)

wherein

B and B′ are optionally substituted aryl and heteroaryl; and

R 23 and R 24 are independently selected from hydrogen; halogen; C 1 -C 3 alkyl; and the group of formula COW wherein W is OR 25 , NR 26 R 27 , piperidino or morpholino wherein R 25 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, phenyl, (C 1 -C 6 alkyl)phenyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyphenyl, phenyl C 1 -C 6 alkyl (C 1 -C 6 alkoxy)phenyl and C 1 -C 6 alkoxy C 2 -C 4 alkyl; R 26 and R 27 are each selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 5 -C 7 cycloalkyl, phenyl, phenyl substituted with one or two groups selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 1 -C 6 alkoxy; and wherein at least one of the substituents selected from the group of substituents consisting of B and B′, R 23 , R 24 , R 25 , R 26 and R 27 is the point of attachment of the linker group in the compound of formula II.

10. The photochromic polymer according to claim 8 wherein PC 1 and PC 2 are independently selected from

where R 22 , R 28 and R 29 are independently selected from hydrogen; halogen; C 1 -C 3 alkyl; and the group of formula COW wherein W is OR 25 , NR 26 R 27 , piperidino or morpholino wherein R 25 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, phenyl, (C 1 -C 6 alkyl)phenyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyphenyl, phenyl C 1 -C 6 alkyl (C 1 -C 6 alkoxy)phenyl and C 1 -C 6 alkoxy C 2 -C 4 alkyl; R 26 and R 27 are each selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 5 -C 7 cycloalkyl, phenyl, phenyl substituted with one or two groups selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 1 -C 6 alkoxy; and wherein at least one of the substituents selected from the group of substituents consisting of B and B′, R 23 , R 24 , R 25 , R 26 and R 27 is the point of attachment of the linker group in the compound of formula II.

11. The photochromic polymer according to claim 10 wherein B and B′ are independently selected from the group consisting of aryl optionally substituted with from 1 to 3 substituents, heteroaryl optionally substituted with from 1 to 3 substituents and wherein the substituents present are selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, aryl, chloroaryl (C 3 -C 7 ) cycloalkylaryl, (C 3 -C 7 ) cycloalkyl, (C 3 -C 7 ) cycloalkoxy, aryl (C 1 -C 6 ) alkyl, aryl (C 1 -C 6 ) alkoxy, aryloxy, aryloxyalkyl, aryloxy (C 1 -C 6 ) alkoxy, (C 1 -C 6 ) alkylaryl, (C 1 -C 6 ) alkyl, (C 1 -C 6 ) alkoxyaryl, (C 1 -C 6 ) alkoxy, amino, N—(C 1 -C 6 ) alkyl piperazino, N-aryl piperazino, indolino, piperidino, aryl pipersillins, morpholino, thiomorpholino and tetrahydro quinolino.

12. A photochromic polymer having the formula II

(PC 1 ) x -L 1 -(Si(R 1 ) 2 O) n Si(R 1 ) 2 -L 2 -(PC 2 ) y   (II)

wherein

L 1 and L 2 are independently selected from a bond and linker groups;

PC 1 and PC 2 are photochromic groups independently selected from naphthopyrans and spiro(indoline)naphthoxazines:

n is from 2 to 80;

x is 1;

y is 1; and

R 1 is methyl.

13. The photochromic polymer according to claim 12 , wherein PC 1 and PC 2 are independently selected from the groups of:

spiro-oxazines of formula VIII:

where A is

and B is selected from the group consisting of

wherein

R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 20 and R 21 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloarylalkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, alkyleneoxyalkyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aryl, arylalkyl, aryloxy, alkylenethioalkyl, acyl, acyloxy, amino, cyano and NR 16 R 17 wherein R 16 and R 17 are each selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an alkoxy group and an allyl each of which may be substituted and where R 16 and R 17 may be bonded and cyclized with each other to form a nitrogen containing heterocyclic ring;

L is the point of attachment of the linker group in the compound of formula II; and

naphthopyrans of formula XX(a)

wherein

B and B′ are optionally substituted aryl and heteroaryl; and

R 22 , R 23 and R 24 are independently selected from hydrogen; halogen; C 1 -C 3 alkyl; and the group of formula COW wherein W is OR 25 , NR 26 R 27 , piperidino or morpholino wherein R 25 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, phenyl, (C 1 -C 6 alkyl)phenyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyphenyl, phenyl C 1 -C 6 alkyl (C 1 -C 6 alkoxy)phenyl and C 1 -C 6 alkoxy C 2 -C 4 alkyl; R 26 and R 27 are each selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 5 -C 7 cycloalkyl, phenyl, phenyl substituted with one or two groups selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 1 -C 6 alkoxy; R 22 and R 23 may optionally form a carbocylic ring of 5 or 6 ring members optionally fused with an optionally substituted benzene and wherein at least one of the substituents selected from the group of substituents consisting of B and B′, R 22 , R 23 , R 24 , R 25 , R 26 and R 27 is the point of attachment of the linker group in the compound of formula II.

14. The photochromic polymer according to claim 12 , wherein PC 1 and PC 2 are independently selected from the group of formula XX(b)

wherein

B and B′ are optionally substituted aryl and heteroaryl; and

R 23 and R 24 are independently selected from hydrogen; halogen; C 1 -C 3 alkyl; and the group of formula COW wherein W is OR 25 , NR 26 R 27 , piperidino or morpholino wherein R 25 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, phenyl, (C 1 -C 6 alkyl)phenyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyphenyl, phenyl C 1 -C 6 alkyl (C 1 -C 6 alkoxy)phenyl and C 1 -C 6 alkoxy C 2 -C 4 alkyl; R 26 and R 27 are each selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 5 -C 7 cycloalkyl, phenyl, phenyl substituted with one or two groups selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 1 -C 6 alkoxy; wherein at least one of the substituents selected from the group of substituents consisting of B and B′, R 23 , R 24 , R 25 , R 26 and R 27 is the point of attachment of the linker group in the compound of formula II.

15. The photochromic polymer according to claim 14 , wherein PC 1 and PC 2 are independently selected from

wherein B and B′ are optionally substituted aryl and heteroaryl,

R 22 , R 24 , R 28 and R 29 are independently selected from hydrogen; halogen; C 1 -C 3 alkyl; and the group of formula COW wherein W is OR 25 , NR 26 R 27 , piperidino or morpholino wherein R 25 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, phenyl, (C 1 -C 6 alkyl)phenyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyphenyl, phenyl C 1 -C 6 alkyl (C 1 -C 6 alkoxy)phenyl and C 1 -C 6 alkoxy C 2 -C 4 alkyl; R 26 and R 27 are each selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 5 -C 7 cycloalkyl, phenyl, phenyl substituted with one or two groups selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 1 -C 6 alkoxy; and wherein at least one of the substituents selected from the group of substituents consisting of B and B′, R 23 , R 24 , R 25 , R 26 and R 27 is the point of attachment of the linker group in the compound of formula II.

16. The photochromic polymer according to claim 14 , wherein B and B′ are independently selected from the group consisting of aryl optionally substituted with from 1 to 3 substituents, heteroaryl optionally substituted with from 1 to 3 substituents and wherein the substituents present are selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, aryl, chloroaryl (C 3 -C 7 ) cycloalkylaryl, (C 3 -C 7 ) cycloalkyl, (C 3 -C 7 ) cycloalkoxy, aryl (C 1 -C 6 ) alkyl, aryl (C 1 -C 6 ) alkoxy, aryloxy, aryloxyalkyl, aryloxy (C 1 -C 6 ) alkoxy, (C 1 -C 6 ) alkylaryl, (C 1 -C 6 ) alkyl, (C 1 -C 6 ) alkoxyaryl, (C 1 -C 6 ) alkoxy, amino, N—(C 1 -C 6 ) alkyl piperazino, N-aryl piperazino, indolino, piperidino, aryl pipersillins, morpholino, thiomorpholino and tetrahydro quinolino.

17. A method for preparing a photochromic polymer according to claim 1 by reacting a siloxane oligomer, optionally functionalised with one or more linker groups with a photochromic compound or linker group prereacted with a photochromic compound to provide said photochromic polymer.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the photochromic polymer is derived from a siloxane oligomer selected from the group consisting of:

(A) polyunsaturated silicone oligomers selected from compounds of formula XXX, XXXI and XXXII:

wherein n is from 0 to 80;

wherein at least one of n and m is at least one and n+m is from 1 to 80;

wherein m is from 1 to 80;

(B) reactive hydride compounds of formula XXXIV and XXXV:

where n is from 0 to 80;

wherein n is at least one and n+m is from 1 to 80;

(C) silanol functionalised siloxane compounds of formula XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX;

wherein n is from 0 to 80;

wherein n is at least one and n+m is from 1 to 80;

wherein m is from 1 to 80;

(D) amine functional group compounds of formula XL, XLIa and XLIb;

wherein n is from 0 to 80;

wherein n is from 0 to 80;

wherein n is from 0 to 80;

(E) epoxide substituted siloxane oligomers of formula XLII:

wherein n is from 0 to 80;

(F) anhydride substituted siloxane oligomers and dicarboxylic acid terminated siloxanes selected from succinic anhydride terminated siloxanes of formula XLIII:

wherein n is from 0 to 80;

(G) carbanol substituted siloxane oligomers of formula XLIIIa and XLIV;

wherein n is from 0 to 80; and each m is independently from 0 to 20;

wherein R is independently selected from C 2 to C 6 alkyl, each m is from 0 to 2 and wherein n is from 1 to 80;

(H) acryloxy(C 1 to C 6 alkyl) and methacryloxy(C 1 to C 6 alkyl) terminated siloxanes such as compounds of formula XLV;

wherein n is from 0 to 80;

(I) acryloxy and methacryloxy terminal groups linked to a siloxane oligomer portion via alkyleneoxyalkyl, polyalkyleneoxyalkyl or substituted alkyleneoxyalkyl of formula XLVI

wherein n is from 0 to 80;

(J) the carboxy substituted siloxane compounds of formula, L, LI and LII;

wherein each m is from 0 to 5 and wherein n is from 1 to 80

wherein n is from 1 to 80

wherein n is from 1 to 80.

19. A composition comprising the photochromic polymer according to claim 1 and a host polymer or polymerizable composition for preparation of a host polymer.

20. A composition according to claim 19 wherein the host polymer comprises homopolymers and copolymers of polyol(allyl carbonate) monomers, homopolymers and copolymers of polyfunctional acrylate monomers, polyacrylates, poly(alkylacrylates), cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, poly(vinyl acetate), poly(vinylalcohol), poly(vinylchloride), poly(vinylidene chloride), polyurethanes, polycarbonates, poly(ethylene-terephthalate), polystyrene, copoly(styrene-methylmethacrylate), copoly(styrene-acrylonitrile), poly(vinylbutyral), and homopolymers and copolymers of diacylidene pentaerythritol, copolymers with polyol(allylcarbonate) monomers and acrylate monomers.