An optical recording material which when exposed to actinic radiation produces a change in optical properties in the exposed regions, thereby providing a pattern of intelligence for storing and retrieving information, the recording material comprising: a) a binder; b) a reactant which is capable of undergoing a chemical transformation upon a one electron oxidation, thus causing the change in optical properties in the exposed regions; and c) a sensitizer capable of absorbing actinic radiation to cause an initial one electron oxidation of the reactant.