PHOTOCHROMIC COMPOUND

摘要

[PROBLEMS] To provide a photochromic compound that is rapidly colored by ultraviolet irradiation and is rapidly decolored by heat application after termination of ultraviolet irradiation; and provide a process for producing the same. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] There are provided photochromic compounds of the general formula: (I) wherein each of R<SUP>1</SUP>, R<SUP>2</SUP> and R<SUP>3</SUP> is a hydrogen atom; a functional group containing any of atoms of Groups 15 to 16 of the periodic table; a halogen atom; a hydrocarbon group optionally having the above functional group or halogen atom as a substituent; or a heterocyclic group optionally having a substituent, provided that R<SUP>1</SUP> and R<SUP>2</SUP>, and R<SUP>2</SUP> and R<SUP>3</SUP>, may be bonded with each other to thereby form a heterocycle or carbocycle optionally having a substituent, and wherein Z is a polyamantylidene group, and W is a bivalent organic group forming a heterocycle or carbocycle optionally having a substituent in cooperation with the carbon to carbon double bond linked thereto.