Abstract: Dehydroabietylamine salicylidene Schiff base (a) and dehydroabietylamine 5-nitrylsalicylidene Schiff base (b) were prepared in ethanol solvent.Their structures were characterized by IR spectroscopy.Their photochromic and solvatochromic properties in organic solvents were studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy. It has been found that:both a and b exhibited photochromism in chloroform solution.Base b exhibited solvatochromism in DMF solution. The mechanisms of photochromism and solvachromism of these two compounds were discussed.

Key words: dehydroabietylamine salicylidene Schiff base, dehydroabietylamine 5-nitrylsalicylidene Schiff base, photochromism, solvatochromism