A Tetrathiafulvalene-Functionalized Radiaannulene with Multiple Redox States

Molecular and Supramolecular Multiredox Systems

The design and synthesis of molecular and supramolecular multiredox systems have been summarized. These systems are of great importance as they can be employed in the next generation of materials for energy storage, energy transport, and solar fuel production. Nature provides guiding pathways and insights to judiciously incorporate and tune the various molecular and supramolecular design aspects that result in the formation of complex and efficient systems. In this review, we have classified molecular multiredox systems into organic and organic-inorganic hybrid systems. The organic multiredox systems are further classified into multielectron acceptors, multielectron donors and ambipolar molecules. Synthetic chemists have integrated different electron donating and electron withdrawing groups to realize these complex molecular systems. Further, we have reviewed supramolecular multiredox systems, redox-active host-guest recognition, including mechanically interlocked systems. Finally, the review provides a discussion on the diverse applications, e. g. in artificial photosynthesis, water splitting, dynamic random access memory, etc. that can be realized from these artificial molecular or supramolecular multiredox systems.

Decorating tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) with fluorinated phenyls through sulfur bridges: facile synthesis, properties, and aggregation through fluorine interactions

Tetrathiafulvalene derivatives (TTF1-TTF9) bearing fluorinated phenyl groups attached through the sulfur bridges have been synthesized by employing a copper-mediated C-S coupling reaction of C6 H5-x Fx I (x=1, 2, 5) and a zinc-thiolate complex, (TBA)2 [Zn(DMIT)2 ] (TBA=tetrabutyl ammonium, DMIT=1,3-dithiole-2-thione-4,5-dithiolate), as the key step. Particularly, the selective synthesis of C6 F5 -substituted (TTF8) and C6 F4 -fused (TTF9) TTFs from C6 F5 I is disclosed. The physicochemical properties and crystal structures of these TTFs are fully investigated by UV/Vis absorption spectra, cyclic voltammetry, molecular orbital calculation, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The exchange of hydrogen versus fluorine on the peripheral phenyl groups show a notable influence on both the electronic and crystallographic natures of the resulting TTFs: 1) lowering both the HOMO and the LUMO energy levels, 2) modulating the electrochemical properties by regioselective and/or the degree of fluorination, 3) enhancing the driving forces of stacking by multiple fluorine interactions (F⋅⋅⋅S, CF⋅⋅⋅π/πF , CF⋅⋅⋅FC, and CF⋅⋅⋅H). This work indicates that the decoration with fluorinated phenyls holds promise to produce functional TTFs with novel electronic and aggregation features.