Structures of ion-pairs derived from dihydroanthracenes I. Electronic spectra
The optical spectra of the 9-lithium and sodium salts of 9, 10-dihydroanthracene and its 10-alkyl substituted derivatives have been investigated in tetrahydrofuran over a wide temperature range (25°C to about −70°C). The spectra of the lithium salts indicate the coexistence of two species having a different degree of solvation, one absorbing at λ max . = 400 nm, the other at λ max . = 450 nm. Lower temperatures favour the latter. It has been found that the presence of an alkyl substituent on carbon 10 greatly increases the stability of that species which absorbs at the longer wavelength. Only one absorption peak is seen in the spectrum of the respective sodium salts. The absorption maximum of the unsubstituted ion-pair shifts with temperature, namely λ max . = 455 nm at −70°C and 425 nm at +20°C. Similar behaviour was observed for the substituted salt. These observations suggest the need for a ‘dynamic’ model of ion-pairs in preference to the ‘static’ one in which the energy of the pair is uniquely determined by the interionic distance. Such models are discussed.