Photoinduced proton transfer systems such as 2-(2′,4′-dinitrobenzyl)pyridine derivatives have been developed in an attempt to apply the compounds to variable optical transmission materials. However their fatigue resistance property is a limitation for these applications. New benzylpyridines have been synthesized and tested. 2-(2′,4′-Diphenylsulfonybenzyl)pyridine was found to be photochromic in the