Light-Induced Synthesis of π-Extended Tetrathiafulvalenes Incorporating Ferrocenes: An Efficient Route for the Synthesis of Electron-Donor Materials

A new method for the synthesis of pi-extended tetrathiafulvalenes developed. The protocol is based on the exposure of 1,4-dithiafulvenes to sunlight or UV light at ambient temperature. In the resulting chalcogenofulvalenes the 1.3-dithiole ring systems are separated by conjugated spacers. Extended TTF analogues are obtained by insertion of linear pi-conjugated spacers (C=C-C=C) of increasing dimensions between the two 1,4-dithiafulvenyl moieties.