Dynamic NMR studies of a potential chiroptical switch based on dithiocarbamate-iminodithiolane interconversion.

[reaction: see text]. Variable temperature NMR spectra of the chiral spiro[(4-N,N-dimethyldithiocarbamato)-(2-N,N-dimethylimino)-1,3-dithiolane-5,9'-xanthene] show complex dynamics including degenerate interconversion of the dithiocarbamate and iminodithiolane groups. The rate of this switching process can be controlled by chemical modification: the analogous spiro[dithiolane-fluorene] derivative shows no interconversion. These novel materials have potential application as molecular switching elements in information storage devices.