ABSTRACT:Through a UV spectral analysis of the photorearrangement reactions in hydroxy-and methoxy-substituted diarylnitrones, it was found that the maximum wavelength of the first absorption band in these nitrone derivatives solubilized into poly(methyl methacrylate) film can be used as a measure of the refractive-index change which is directly related to the change in linear polarizability. It was also found that steric bulkiness of the alkyl substituent attached at the para-position on the N-aryl benzene ring contributes to the magnitude of refractive-index change to only a negligible extent.