Conformation and packing of odd-numbered α-oligothiophenes in single crystals

X-ray single crystal analyses revealed the molecular geometry and molecular packing of odd-numbered alpha-oligothiophenes (septithiophene, quinquethiophene and terthiophene) in single crystals prepared by sublimation. Septithiophene crystallizes into triclinic, which is in contrast to the monoclinic packing of even-numbered oligomers. The molecular arrangement of septithiophene in a single crystal resembles that reported for even-numbered oligomers, while the molecules take a more random conformation: only one of the two terminal thienyl rings exhibits disorder and significant torsion from the conjugated plane. The X-ray diffraction data of a quinquethiophene single crystal suggest that the molecule with one of the two different orientations randomly occupies each site.