Synthesis and electrochemical studies of ferrocene-dithiafulvalenes (Fc-DTF) and 1,1′-bis(dithiafulvalenyl)ferrocene (DTF-Fc-DTF). An approach towards new conducting organic materials

Novel π-conjugated donor compounds based on the strong electron-donating ferrocene moiety and dithiafulvalene donors exhibited increased electron donor ability. The ferrocenylketones , , and were synthesized via described methods, and allowed to react with 2-dimethoxyphosphinyl-1,3-benzodithiole () in the presence of n-BuLi at −78°C in dry THF to afford the corresponding ferrocene-dithiafulvalenes , , and 1,1′-bis(benzo-1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)ethyl]ferrocene (). Electrochemical properties of these new donor compounds were studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and UV–Vis spectra. CV and absorption spectra of the new compounds were studied in comparison with ferrocene () and dibenzo-tetrathiafulvalene DB-TTF . Two-electron and three-electron redox behaviors were observed as two waves. The absorption spectra showed a red-shift with a slight increase in the absorption intensities.