The Synthesis of Thermochromic Dibismuthines with Non-Thermochromic Distibine Analogs
Abstract
Certain distibines and dibismuthines display a dramatic color change upon melting. This change has been labeled thermochromic, although it is associated with a phase change. The thermochromic compounds also show color changes on solvation. To date, when a dibismuthine has been thermochromic, its antimony analog has also displayed the same behavior, and vice versa. However, there are no reasons to anticipate that this should always be the case. The crystal structures of these thermochromic species, when available, reveal the pnictogen centers to be ordered in a stacked linear arrangement with short intermolecular pnictogen-pnictogen contacts. This packing arrangement is not observed in non-thermochromic dipnictines and is believed to be responsible for the thermochromic behavior. Since the van der Waals radius of bismuth (2.3A) is considerably greater than that of antimony (2.2 A), it seems likely that dibismuthines might more readily achieve the intermolecular contacts necessary for thermochromicity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 26, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA251029
Entities
People
- Donald P. Hsu
- John F. Richardson
- Rupert E. Spence
- Stephen L. Buchwald
- William M. Davis
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology