Martin R. Bryce, Antony Chesney, Shimon Yoshida, Adrian J. Moore, Andrei S. Batsanov and Judith A. K. Howard
Efficient syntheses of 2,2′-ethanediylidenebis(4,5-dimethyl-2 H-1,3-diselenole) 14 and the 1,3-dithiole analogue 16 are described. Cyclic voltammetry establishes that they are efficient π-electron donors. The molecular structures of 14 and 16 have been determined by single crystal X-ray analysis: the crystals are isomorphous and the molecules form planar layers parallel to the crystallographic (1 0 2) plane.