Electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of oligoselenophenes

The cyclic voltammograms and electronic absorption spectra of a series of α-oligoselenophenes have been studied, which systematically changed depending on the conjugated chain lengths, being reminiscent of those for the oligothiophene series. Their radical cations and dications were successively generated by stoichiometric oxidations with FeCl3B in dichloromethane and characterized by electronic spectroscopy. In addition, electrolysis of the unsubstituted oligoselenophenes gave polymeric films very similar to that obtained from selenophene itself, which was suggested to have a limited conjugation.