Synthesis of tetrahydroxy-π-extended tetrathiafulvalenes as new supramolecular redox building blocks

A novel p-quinonoid π-extended tetrathiafulvalene (exTTF) endowed with four hydroxy groups with different reactivity (phenol and alcohol) has been synthesized as a supramolecular redox building block. The redox properties, studied by cyclic voltammetry, reveal a strong donor ability and, despite the different substitution pattern on the 1,3-dithiole rings, only one oxidation wave involving two electrons to form the dication species.