The invention relates to novel compounds of the following formula, in which R1, R2 and R3, identical or different, independently represent hydrogen, a halogen, a Cl to C15 hydroxy or hydroxyalkyl group, and/or a C1 to C15 linear or branched alkyl group. R4 is linked to the naphthalene unit at position 1, 2 or 3 via a —CH2—O— bond and R5 is linked to the naphthalene unit at position 1, 2 or 3 and e is an integer lying between 0 and 2 and such that d+e=3. It also relates to the method for synthesizing these compounds and to their use for the manufacture of photochromic or photosensitive polymers.