To provide a new diarylethene monomer capable of readily synthesizing a photochromic polymer and the new photochromic polymer obtained by polymerizing the monomer.
This diarylethene monomer is represented by formula (1) (wherein, Z1, Z2, Ar1 and Ar2 are each the same as defined in detailed description of the invention). The photochromic polymer is produced by polymerizing the monomer. The photochromic polymer having excellent control characteristics of optical signals, photochromic characteristics, control characteristics, etc., of photorefractive index can be produced by introducing the diarylethene represented by formula (1) into a polymer chain. In particular, photochromic characteristics of the polymer can readily be controlled by controlling the length of the block and structure of comonomers of the block copolymer containing a diarylethene block.
CHO SONG YUN
YOO MIN JA
AHN KWANG-HYUN