Unexpected electrochemical behaviour of highly bulky aromatic hexasulfones Conformational change under electron transfer

Abstract

A series of hexa(alkylsulfonyl)benzenes were studied electrochemically in aprotic media at a platinum electrode. It was found that the voltammetric behaviour strongly depends on the bulkiness of the alkyl groups as well as on parameters like temperature and/or sweep rate. It is pointed out that the title compounds can exist in two forms possessing quite different standard potentials. The ratio between these two structures is strongly influenced by an inner structure reorganization following electron transfer.