• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.25 no.9
• /
• pp.1361-1365
• /
• 2004

Solvatokinetic and solvatochromic behavior of bis(indolinobenzospiropyranyl) sulfide derivatives 1a-1c have been studied in various solvents. The marked negative solvatochromism is exhibited for 1a and 1b in the whole region of solvent polarity examined. Whereas, it is found only in the polar solvent region ($E_T$ > 37) for 1c. The sensitivity order to the solvent media (slope values) is 1a > 1b > 1c. The branched linear plot with a zero slope was shown for the most sterically-hindered compound 1c in the less polar-solvent region (($E_T$ < 37). The biphasic plot is indicative of dual mechanistic process, i.e., a transition state with increased zwitter-ionic character in more polar solvents and electrocyclic process with an isopolar transition state in less polar solvents.