Charge-transfer complex formations of tetracyanoquinone (cyanil) and aromatic electron donors

Single-electron oxidants are the primary reagents for investigations of the new oxidants and the development of electron-accepting materials for application in optoelectronics. Quinones are the well-known class of the neutral single-electron oxidants. Here, we present the properties of the strongest neutral electron acceptor of this class tetracyanoquinone (cyanil) and investigate its electron-accepting strength by analyzing the charge-transfer complex formations with the aromatic donor molecules. Charge-transfer complexes of tetracyanoquinone with aromatic electron donors are characterized spectroscopically in solution and isolated as the single crystals. Copyright (C) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.