Manuel Souto

Intra- and Intermolecular Charge Transfer in Aggregates of Tetrathiafulvalene-Triphenylmethyl Radical Derivatives in Solution

An extensive investigation of aggregation phenomena occurring in solution for a family of electron donor-acceptor derivatives, based on polychlorotriphenylmethyl radicals (PTM) linked via a vinylene-bridge to tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) units, is presented. A large set of temperature and/or concentration dependent optical absorption and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra in a solution of dyads bearing different number of electrons and/or with a hydrogenated PTM residue offer reliable information on the formation of homo dimers and mixed valence dimers. The results shed light on the reciprocal influence of intramolecular electron transfer (IET) within a dyad and the intermolecular charge transfer (CT) occurring in a dimer between the TTF residues and are rationalized based on a theoretical model that describes both interactions.

Induced Self-Assembly of a Tetrathiafulvalene-Based Open-Shell Dyad through Intramolecular Electron Transfer†

An organic switch: An open-shell dyad, consisting of an electron acceptor perchlorotriphenylmethyl radical unit linked to an electron π-donor tetrathiafulvalene unit through a vinylene π-bridge, was synthesized (see picture). The self-assembly of the dyad in solution induced by its intramolecular electron transfer was studied.

Self‐Assembled Architectures with Segregated Donor and Acceptor Units of a Dyad Based on a Monopyrrolo‐Annulated TTF–PTM Radical

An electron donor-acceptor dyad based on a polychlorotriphenylmethyl (PTM) radical subunit linked to a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) unit through a π-conjugated N-phenyl-pyrrole-vinylene bridge has been synthesized and characterized. The intramolecular electron transfer process and magnetic properties of the radical dyad have been evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, UV/Vis spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, and ESR spectroscopy in solution and in the solid state. The self-assembling abilities of the radical dyad and of its protonated non-radical analogue have been investigated by X-ray crystallographic analysis, which revealed that the radical dyad produced a supramolecular architecture with segregated donor and acceptor units in which the TTF subunits were arranged in 1D herringbone-type stacks. Analysis of the X-ray data at different temperatures suggests that the two inequivalent molecules that form the asymmetric unit of the crystal of the radical dyad evolve into an opposite degree of electronic delocalization as the temperature decreases.

Pressure-Induced Conductivity in a Neutral Nonplanar Spin-Localized Radical

There is a growing interest in the development of single-component molecular conductors based on neutral organic radicals that are mainly formed by delocalized planar radicals, such as phenalenyl or thiazolyl radicals. However, there are no examples of systems based on nonplanar and spin-localized C-centered radicals exhibiting electrical conductivity due to their large Coulomb energy (U) repulsion and narrow electronic bandwidth (W) that give rise to a Mott insulator behavior. Here we present a new type of nonplanar neutral radical conductor attained by linking a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) donor unit to a neutral polychlorotriphenylmethyl radical (PTM) with the important feature that the TTF unit enhances the overlap between the radical molecules as a consequence of short intermolecular S···S interactions. This system becomes semiconducting upon the application of high pressure thanks to increased electronic bandwidth and charge reorganization opening the way to develop a new family of neutral radical conductors.

Tuning the Rectification Ratio by Changing the Electronic Nature (Open-Shell and Closed-Shell) in Donor–Acceptor Self-Assembled Monolayers

This Communication describes the mechanism of charge transport across self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of two donor-acceptor systems consisting of a polychlorotriphenylmethyl (PTM) electron-acceptor moiety linked to an electron-donor ferrocene (Fc) unit supported by ultraflat template-stripped Au and contacted by a eutectic alloy of gallium and indium top contacts. The electronic and supramolecular structures of these SAMs were well characterized. The PTM unit can be switched between the nonradical and radical forms, which influences the rectification behavior of the junction. Junctions with nonradical units rectify currents via the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) with a rectification ratio R = 99, but junctions with radical units have a new accessible state, a single-unoccupied molecular orbital (SUMO), which turns rectification off and drops R to 6.

Three Redox States of a Diradical Acceptor-Donor-Acceptor Triad: Gating the Magnetic Coupling and the Electron Delocalization.

The diradical acceptor-donor-acceptor triad 1(••), based on two polychlorotriphenylmethyl (PTM) radicals connected through a tetrathiafulvalene(TTF)-vinylene bridge, has been synthesized. The generation of the mixed-valence radical anion, 1(•-), and triradical cation species, 1(•••+), obtained upon electrochemical reduction and oxidation, respectively, was monitored by optical and ESR spectroscopy. Interestingly, the modification of electron delocalization and magnetic coupling was observed when the charged species were generated and the changes have been rationalized by theoretical calculations.

Tetrathiafulvalene–Polychlorotriphenylmethyl Dyads: Influence of Bridge and Open‐Shell Characteristics on Linear and Nonlinear Optical Properties

Three conjugated donor-π-acceptor radical systems (1 a-1 c) were prepared by bridging a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) electron-donor unit to a polychlorotriphenylmethyl (PTM) electron-acceptor radical through vinylene units of different lengths. The dependence of the intramolecular charge transfer on the length of the conjugated bridge has been analyzed by different electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques. Linear optical properties and the second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) response of these derivatives have been computed by comparing systems 1 a-1 c with the non-radical analogues (2 a-2 c). Interestingly, an enhanced NLO response is predicted for dyads 1 a-1 c with PTM in the radical form and for compounds with longer vinylene bridges. Calculations confirm the active role the bridge plays for electronic communication between the donor TTF and the acceptor PTM units.

TTF–PTM dyads: from switched molecular self assembly in solution to radical conductors in solid state

Organic donor–acceptor (D–A) systems formed by the electron-donor tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) linked to the electron-acceptor perchlorotriphenylmethyl (PTM) radical through different π-conjugated bridges exhibit interesting physical properties such as bistability in solution or conductivity in solid state. Understanding the interplay between intra- and intermolecular charge transfer processes in solution is of high interest in order to rationalize the self-assembling ability and conducting properties of such dyads in solid state. In this Highlight we examine the self-assembling properties of different TTF–π–PTM radical dyads that have potential applications as molecular switches or conductors in the field of molecular electronics.

Role of the Open-Shell Character on the Pressure-Induced Conductivity of an Organic Donor-Acceptor Radical Dyad

Single-component conductors based on neutral organic radicals have received a lot of attention due to the possibility that the unpaired electron can serve as a charge carrier without the need of a previous doping process. Although most of these systems are based on delocalized planar radicals, we present here a nonplanar and spin localized radical based on a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) moiety, linked to a perchlorotriphenylmethyl (PTM) radical by a conjugated bridge, which exhibits a semiconducting behavior upon application of high pressure. The synthesis, electronic properties, and crystal structure of this neutral radical TTF-Ph-PTM derivative (1) are reported and implications of its crystalline structure on its electrical properties are discussed. On the other hand, the non-radical derivative (2), which is isostructural with the radical 1, shows an insulating behavior at all measured pressures. The different electronic structures of these two isostructural systems have a direct influence on the conducting properties, as demonstrated by band structure DFT calculations.

Understanding the Influence of the Electronic Structure on the Crystal Structure of a TTF-PTM Radical Dyad

The understanding of the crystal structure of organic compounds, and its relationship to their physical properties, have become essential to design new advanced molecular materials. In this context, we present a computational study devoted to rationalize the different crystal packing displayed by two closely related organic systems based on the TTF-PTM dyad (TTF = tetrathiafulvalene, PTM = polychlorotriphenylmethane) with almost the same molecular structure but a different electronic one. The radical species (1), with an enhanced electronic donor-acceptor character, exhibits a herringbone packing, whereas the nonradical protonated analogue (2) is organized forming dimers. The stability of the possible polymorphs is analyzed in terms of the cohesion energy of the unit cell, intermolecular interactions between pairs, and molecular flexibility of the dyad molecules. It is observed that the higher electron delocalization in radical compound 1 has a direct influence on the geometry of the molecule, which seems to dictate its preferential crystal structure.