Synthesis,Structure and Photochemical Properties of 4, 4′, 7, 7′-Tetra-substituted 1,1′, 3,3′-Tetraethylbenzimidazolotriazatrimethine Cyanines

The synthesis of sterically hindered 1,1′, 3,3′-tetraethylbenzimidazolotriazatrimethine cyanine dyes, their electron absorption spectra and that of their photo-products (inverse photochromism) is described. Kinetic data of the thermally reversed reaction of the photo-bleached compounds are given. The differences of the electron absorption spectra in this series in this series of dyes are explained by the different degree of distortion of the π-systems which is confirmed by an X-ray investigation.