Abstract

New electron donors 4,5-ethylenedithio-4′,5′-(1-hydroxypropane-2,3-diyldithio)tetrathiafulvalene (1a), 4,5-bis(methylthio)-4′,5′-(1-hydroxypropane-2,3-diyldithio)tetrathiafulvalene (1b), 4,5-ethylenedithio-4′,5′-(1,4-dihydroxybutane-2,3-diyldithio)tetrathiafulvalene (1c) and 4,5-bis(methylthio)-4′,5′-(1,4-dihydroxybutane-2,3-diyldithio)tetrathiafulvalene (1d) with hydroxymethyl groups were synthesized and characterized spectroscopically. Their redox potentials were determined using cyclic voltammetry. Crystals of cation-radical salts based on these new electron donors, (1a)₂·ClO₄, (1c)₂·Cl, (1c)₂·I, were obtained by standard electrochemical methods. The crystal structure of (1c)₂·Cl was determined and studied. Electrical measurements of the cation-radical salts indicated that they displayed semiconducting behaviors, however, with good conductivities at room temperature: 0.68 S cm⁻¹ for (1a)₂·ClO₄ and 0.10 S cm⁻¹ for (1c)₂·Cl.