Bis(arylidene)tetrathiapentalenes — novel building blocks for extended tetrathiafulvalenes and conducting polymers

1,3,4,6-tetrathiapentalene-2,5-dione (1) undergoes a Wittig-type reaction with aromatic aldehydes 2a - f in neat triethyl phosphite to furnish the novel, disubstituted tetrathiapentalene derivatives (3a - f ). Their electrochemical behaviour and donor properties are discussed.