Synthesis, absorption spectra and semiempiric calculations on the photochromism of arylmercuric dithizonate complexes

Abstract

A series of arylmercuric dithizonate complexes have been synthesized and characterized. Optical spectra of dissolved and pure compounds show transition energies around 480 nm which have been rationalized by semiempiric PM3 calculations. All complexes show a pronounced photochromism. The calculations also account for the observed blue absorption of the metastable species when an underlying geometric arrangement according to the proposal of Meriwether's is assumed.