Abstract 2-(3-Nitro-2-pyridylmethyl) benzazoles were synthesized, and their photochromic properties were studied by flash photolysis. Introduction of a nitropyridyl instead of the nitrophenyl moiety into the 2-methyl group insignificantly increases the basicity of the methylene group. Nitropyridyl-substituted benzazoles give rise to three detectable photoinduced forms: the corresponding anion at pH> 10, azamerocyanine at pH≈ 4, and ...
