Synthesis and properties of bis(2,5-dimethylpyrrolo[3,4-d])tetrathiafulvalenes, a class of annelated tetrathiafulvalene derivatives with excellent electron donor properties

The synthesis of the first derivatives of bis(pyrrolo[3,4-d])tetrathiafulvalene has been studied in detail. Starting from the readily available 2,5-dimethylpyrrole (11) and N-phenyl-2,5-dimethylpyrrole, bis(2,5-dimethylpyrrolo[3,4-d])tetrathiafulvalene (8) and the N,N'-disubstituted derivatives 6, 7, 9, and 10 were prepared in good yields by practical procedures. In contrast to the other types of aromatic annelated tetrathiafulvalenes (TTFs), which have appreciably higher oxidation potentials than TTF, the redox behavior of the pyrrolo tetrathiafulvalenes (TTFs) is very close to that of TTF itself. The potential of pyrrolotetrathiafulvalenes as a new series of organic metal building blocks is shown by the two-probe conductivities of the tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) complexes of the N-phenyl compound 7 and the N-methyl compound 9, which give higher values than TTF-TCNQ under similar conditions.