New stable, isolable triarylmethyl based dyes absorbing in the near infrared

A series of new intensely coloured multicharged methylium compounds containing the 4-[2-ferrocenylethenyl]phenyl group and with significant electronic absorption in the near infrared have been prepared via acidification of the tertiary carbinols obtained by reaction of 4-[FcCHCH]C₆H₄Li with diethyl isophthalate, diethyl terephthalate, diethyl phthalate or the triethyl ester of 1,3,5-benzene carboxylic acid. Even more stable dyes were prepared from two new triarylmethanol derivatives containing 2,6-dimethoxy-4-[2-(ferrocenyl)ethenyl]phenyl or 2,6-dimethoxy-4-[2-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethenyl]phenyl groups which were prepared by reaction of 4-[FcCHCH]-2,6-MeO₂C₆H₂Li or 4-[4-Me₂NC₆H₄CHCH]-2,6-MeO₂C₆H₂Li (Fc = ferrocenyl) with diethyl carbonate. These carbinols on treatment with acid deposit dark-purple crystals which have been isolated and characterised spectroscopically. They absorb in the near infrared and, whereas their solutions begin to decolourise only after several days, they display long-term stability to air and moisture in the solid state.