Indoleninium salts

The first method is perhaps the most common, and is exemplified by the condensation shown in Scheme 3 of a 2-alkyl heterocyclic quaternary salt or the corresponding methylene base with a 2-hydroxy unsaturated aldehyde grouping (which usually is part of an aromatic ring, as in salicylaldehyde). These intermediates have given a broad assortment of spiropyran classes. The ready availability of 1.2.3.3.-tetraalkyl-3/f-indoleninium salts and salicylaldehydes has led to a large number of spiro-(2i/-l-benzopyran-2,2 -indolines) [this name will be used in preference to the correct T,3 -dihydrospiro(2//-l-bcnzopyran-2,2 -(2 //(-indole)]. A common acronym for this class, BIPS, will be used in this chapter as both singular and plural. 

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