Mixed-metal cluster chemistry. 29. Core expansion and ligand-driven metal exchange at group 6-iridium clusters

Reactions of the tetrahedral clusters MoIr3(mu-CO)3(CO)8(eta-L) (L = C5HMe4, C5Me5) with the carbonylmetalate anions [Mo(CO)3(eta-L)]- afford the trigonal bipyramidal clusters Mo2Ir3(mu3-H)(mu-CO)2(CO)9(eta-L)2 (L = C5HMe4 (3c), 74%; L = C5Me5 (3d), 55%) in which the group 6 metal atoms occupy the apexes; reaction of the cyclopentadienylmolybdenum-containing analogues or their cyclopentadienyltungsten-containing homologues failed to afford analogous products. Reactions of MIr3(mu-CO)3(CO)8(eta-C5H5) (M = Mo, W) with [M(CO)3(eta-L)]- (L = C5HMe4, C5Me5) afford the core-expanded heteroapex clusters M2Ir3(mu3-H)(mu-CO)2(CO)9(eta-C5H5)(eta-L) (M = Mo, L = C5HMe4 (5c), 9%, L = C5Me5 (5d), 4%; M = W, L = C5Me5 (6d), 5%) in low yield, together with the homoapex clusters M2Ir3(mu3-H)(mu-CO)2(CO)9(eta-L)2 (M = Mo, L = C5HMe4 (3c), 81%, L = C5Me5 (3d), 60%; M = W, L = C5Me5 (4d), 5%) in much higher yield for the Mo-containing examples. The identities of clusters 3c,d, 4d, and 5c,d have been confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies, with the same disposition of ligands about the trigonal bipyramidal cluster cores being observed in each case, a ligand arrangement that has been examined by complementary density functional theory studies. While cluster 5d is accessible as above, no reaction is observed from MoIr3(mu-CO)3(CO)8(eta-C5Me5) and [M(CO)3(eta-C5H5)]-. Treating MoIr3(mu-CO)3(CO)8(eta-C5H5) with 1 equiv of [M(CO)3(eta-C5Me5)]- affords 5d as the major product, a further 1 equiv affording some MoIr3(mu-CO)3(CO)8(eta-C5Me5) and a third 1 equiv giving a good yield of 3d. This is consistent with reaction proceeding by apex fragment addition, followed by apex fragment elimination, and finally a further apex fragment addition, the homometallic incoming apexes being distinguished from the departing vertices by their highly methylated cyclopentadienyl ligands. Spectroscopic data suggest that the electron density at these disparate-metal-containing cluster cores is tunable by progressive (conceptual) cyclopentadienyl alkylation.     

Mixed-metal cluster chemistry. 28. Core enlargement of tungsten-iridium clusters with alkynyl, ethyndiyl, and butadiyndiyl reagents

Reaction of [WIr3(mu-CO)3(CO)8(eta-C5Me5)] (1c) with [W(C[triple bond]CPh)(CO)3(eta-C5H5)] afforded the edge-bridged tetrahedral cluster [W2Ir3(mu4-eta2-C2Ph)(mu-CO)(CO)9(eta-C5H5)(eta-C5Me5)] (3) and the edge-bridged trigonal-bipyramidal cluster [W3Ir3(mu4-eta2-C2Ph)(mu-eta2-C=CHPh)(Cl)(CO)8(eta-C5Me5)(eta-C5H5)2] (4) in poor to fair yield. Cluster 3 forms by insertion of [W(C[triple bond]CPh)(CO)3(eta-C5H5)] into Ir-Ir and W-Ir bonds, accompanied by a change in coordination mode from a terminally bonded alkynyl to a mu4-eta2 alkynyl ligand. Cluster 4 contains an alkynyl ligand interacting with two iridium atoms and two tungsten atoms in a mu4-eta2 fashion, as well as a vinylidene ligand bridging a W-W bond. Reaction of [WIr3(CO)11(eta-C5H5)] (1a) or 1c with [(eta-C5H5)(CO)2 Ru(C[triple bond]C)Ru(CO)2(eta-C5H5)] afforded [Ru2WIr3(mu5-eta2-C2)(mu-CO)3(CO)7(eta-C5H5)2(eta-C5R5)] [R = H (5a), Me (5c)] in low yield, a structural study of 5a revealing a WIr3 butterfly core capped and spiked by Ru atoms; the diruthenium ethyndiyl precursor has undergone Ru-C scission, with insertion of the C2 unit into a W-Ir bond of the cluster precursor. Reaction of [W2Ir2(CO)10(eta-C5H5)2] with the diruthenium ethyndiyl reagent gave [RuW2Ir2{mu4-eta2-(C2C[triple bond]C)Ru(CO)2(eta-C5H5)}(mu-CO)2(CO)6(eta-C5H5)3] (6) in low yield, a structural study of 6 revealing a butterfly W2Ir2 unit capped by a Ru(eta-C5H5) group resulting from Ru-C scission; the terminal C2 of a new ruthenium-bound butadiyndiyl ligand has been inserted into the W-Ir bond. Reaction between 1a, [WIr3(CO)11(eta-C5H4Me)] (1b), or 1c and [(eta-C5H5)(CO)3W(C[triple bond]CC[triple bond]C)W(CO)3(eta-C5H5)] afforded [W2Ir3{mu4-eta2-(C2C[triple bond]C)W(CO)3(eta-C5H5)}(mu-CO)2(CO)2(eta-C5H5)(eta-C5R5)] [R = H (7a), Me (7c); R5 = H4Me (7b)] in good yield, a structural study of 7c revealing it to be a metallaethynyl analogue of 3.     

Crystallographic, vibrational and theoretical studies of 2,3-diaminopyridinium selenate

The new organic–inorganic salt, 2,3-diaminopyridinium selenate, has been synthesized and characterized by means of single-crystal X-ray crystallography, FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopy. A diprotonated organic ligand, H₂^1,3L²⁺, existing in the crystal structure was theoretically shown to be the most stable cationic species of 2,3-diaminopyridine. The weak non-covalent forces of N–H?O type between the hydrogen atoms of the amino and ammonio groups of 2,3-diaminopyridinium cation and oxygen atoms of tetrahedral selenate anions determine three-dimensional arrangement with complex network of intermolecular interactions of hydrogen bond type (donor–acceptor distances from 2.697(3) Å to 3.088(3) Å). Vibrational spectra have been discussed in comparison with X-ray results. Juxtaposition of spectra of the complex with the pure organic ligand and deuterated analogue of the title compound allowed to give reliable assignments of most observed vibrational bands. Presented data can be useful in elucidation of molecular mechanism of uptake of tetrahedral SeO₄²⁻ anion by the living organisms.     

Synthetic, electrochemical, and theoretical studies of tetrairidium clusters bearing mono- and bis[60]fullerene ligands

Heating a mixture of Ir(4)(CO)(9)(PPh(3))(3) (1) and 2 equiv of C(60) in refluxing chlorobenzene (CB) affords a "butterfly" tetrairidium-C(60) complex Ir(4)(CO)(6){mu(3)-kappa(3)-PPh(2)(o-C(6)H(4))P(o-C(6)H(4))PPh(eta(1)-o-C(6)H(4))}(mu(3)-eta(2):eta(2):eta(2)-C(60)) (3, 36%). Brief thermolysis of 1 in refluxing chlorobenzene (CB) gives a "butterfly" complex Ir(4)(CO)(8){mu-k(2)-PPh(2)(o-C(6)H(4))PPh}{mu(3)-PPh(2)(eta(1):eta(2)-o-C(6)H(4))} (2, 64%) that is both ortho-phosphorylated and ortho-metalated. Interestingly, reaction of 2 with 2 equiv of C(60) in refluxing CB produces 3 (41%) by C(60)-assisted ortho-phosphorylation, indicating that 2 is the reaction intermediate for the final product 3. On the other hand, reaction of Ir(4)(CO)(8)(PMe(3))(4) (4) with excess (4 equiv) C(60) in refluxing 1,2-dichlorobenzene, followed by treatment with CNCH(2)Ph at 70 degrees C, affords a square-planar complex with two C(60) ligands and a face-capping methylidyne ligand, Ir(4)(CO)(3)(mu(4)-CH)(PMe(3))(2)(mu-PMe(2))(CNCH(2)Ph)(mu-eta(2):eta(2)-C(60))(mu(4)-eta(1):eta(1):eta(2):eta(2)-C(60)) (5, 13%) as the major product. Compounds 2, 3, and 5 have been characterized by spectroscopic and microanalytical methods, as well as by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Cyclic voltammetry has been used to examine the electrochemical properties of 2, 3, 5, and a related known "butterfly" complex Ir(4)(CO)(6)(mu-CO){mu(3)-k(2)-PPh(2)(o-C(6)H(4))P(eta(1)-o-C(6)H(4))}(mu(3)-eta(2):eta(2):eta(2)-C(60)) (6). These cyclic voltammetry data suggest that a C(60)-mediated electron transfer to the iridium cluster center takes place for the species 3(3)(-) and 6(2)(-) in compounds 3 and 6. The cyclic voltammogram of 5 exhibits six well-separated reversible, one-electron redox waves due to the strong electronic communication between two C(60) cages through a tetrairidium metal cluster spacer. The electrochemical properties of 3, 5, and 6 have been rationalized by molecular orbital calculations using density functional theory and by charge distribution studies employing the Mulliken and Hirshfeld population analyses.     

Electronic properties of mononuclear, dinuclear, and polynuclear cobaltacarboranes: electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies

Electronic interactions and metal-metal communication in a wide range of cobaltacarborane-hydrocarbon complexes containing one to six metal centers, and exhibiting a variety of modes of inter-cage connectivity and molecular architectures, have been investigated via cyclic voltammetry, controlled potential coulometry, and UV-visible spectroelectrochemistry. The properties of mixed-valent Co(III)/Co(IV) and Co(II)/Co(III) species that are generated on oxidation or reduction of dinuclear and polynuclear Co(III) complexes were examined and classified as Robin-Day Class I (localized), Class II (partially delocalized), or Class III (fully delocalized) systems. The extent of metal-metal communication between metallacarborane cage units is strongly influenced by the type of intercage connection (e.g., cage B-B or Cp-Cp); the vertexes involved (equatorial vs apical); the nature of the linking unit, if any; and the presence of substituents on the carborane cages. In multi-tripledecker complexes where three CpCo(C(2)B(3)H(4))CoCp units are linked through a central triethynyl benzene connector, the data suggest that Co-Co electronic communication is extensive (Class III) within individual sandwich units while intersandwich delocalization is weak or absent. An extended Hückel study of CpCoC(2)B(4)H(6) double-decker and CpCo(C(2)B(3)H(5))CoCp triple-decker sandwich model complexes shows significant differences in the orbital contributions involved in the HOMO and LUMO of the former vs the latter type. The calculations afford additional insight into the electronic structures and properties of these systems as elucidated by the experimental studies.     

Pyridine-2-olato chelated ruthenium(II) organometallics incorporating imine-phenol function: spectroscopic,structural, electrochemical,and theoretical studies

The heterogeneous phase reaction of excess sodium salt of 2-hydroxypyridine (OHpy) with [Ru(κ²C,O-RL)(PPh₃)₂(CO)Cl] (1) afforded complexes of the type [Ru(κ¹C-RL)(PPh₃)₂(CO)(Opy)] (2) in excellent yield [κ²C,O-RL is 4-methyl-6-((N-R-arylimino)methyl)phenolato-C²,O), κ¹C-RL is 4-methyl-6-((N-R-arylimino)methyl)phenol-C²) and R is H, Me, OMe, Cl]. The chelation of Opy is attended with the cleavage of Ru-O and Ru-Cl bonds and iminium-phenolato → imine-phenol prototropic shift. The 1→2 conversion is irreversible and the type 2 species are thermodynamically more stable than the acetate, nitrite, and nitrate complexes of 1. The spectral (UV-vis, IR, NMR) and electrochemical data of the complexes are reported. In dichloromethane solution the complexes display one quasi-reversible Ru^III/Ru^II cyclic voltammetric response with E_1/2 in the range 0.65–0.69 V versus Ag/AgCl. The crystal and molecular structures of [Ru(κ¹C-HL)(PPh₃)₂(CO)(Opy)]·2C₆H₆·0.5H₂O, 2(H)·2C₆H₆·0.5H₂O and [Ru(κ¹C-ClL)(PPh₃)₂(CO)(Opy)]·2C₆H₆·0.25H₂O, 2(Cl)·2C₆H₆·0.25H₂O are reported, which revealed a distorted octahedral RuC₂P₂NO coordination sphere. The pairs (P,P), (C,O), and (C,N) define the three trans directions. The electronic structures of the complexes are also scrutinized by density functional theory.     

Water trapped in dibenzo-18-crown-6: theoretical and spectroscopic (IR, Raman) studies

Experimental (IR and Raman) and theoretical (Kohn-Sham calculations) methods are used in a combined analysis aimed at refining the available structural data concerning the molecular guests in channels formed by stacked dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) crown ether. The calculations are performed for a simplified model comprising isolated DB18C6 unit and its complexes with either H2O or H3O+ guests, which are the simplest model ingredients of a one-dimensional diluted acid chain, to get structural and energetic data concerning the formation of the complex and to assign the characteristic spectroscopic bands. The oxygen centers in the previously reported crystallographic structure are assigned to either H2O or protonated species.     

Solution chemistry of element 106: theoretical predictions of hydrolysis of group 6 cations Mo, W, and Sg

Fully relativistic molecular density-functional calculations of the electronic structure of hydrated and hydrolyzed complexes have been performed for the group 6 elements Mo, W, and element 106, Sg. By use of the electronic density distribution data, relative values of the free energy changes and constants of hydrolysis reactions were defined. The results show hydrolysis of the cationic species with the formation of neutral molecules to decrease in the order Mo > W > Sg, which is in agreement with experiments for Mo, W, and Sg. For the further hydrolysis process with the formation of anionic species, the trend is reversed: Mo > Sg > W. A decisive energetic factor in the hydrolysis process proved to be a predominant electrostatic metal-ligand interaction.     

六核钴原子簇化学 3: 一些含Co~6八面体簇骼的原子簇化合物的合成、结构和电化学性质

(R~8P)~4-nCoX~n(R=Ph,Et 等;X=C,B=1,2)与Na~E~x(E=S,Se;X=1,2)在DMF或DMF/乙醇介质中反应得到了一系列六核钴的原子簇化合物Co~6(μ~3-E)~8(PR~3)~6.这些化合物含有正规的或畸变的Co~6八面簇骼.化合物可以用I~2氧化生成正一价的簇合物而不改变簇骼的几何构型,反达来,正一价的簇合物也可以被苊烯钠还生成中性的簇合物.本文还研究了这些化合物的电化学性质并提出了氧化还原反应的电子传递过程.     

Synthesis, structural, spectroscopic and electrochemical studies of carborane substituted naphthyl selenides

New unsymmetrical selenides bearing an o-carborane and a naphthalene ring as the substituents were prepared by the cleavage of the corresponding diselenides. The compounds were characterized by means of spectroscopic and analytical methods. (77)Se NMR signals of the selenium atoms attached to the carbon atoms of the carborane cages are shifted downfield in comparison to those bonded only to the aromatic rings, indicating an electron withdrawing effect of the o-carboranyl substituent. Compounds 1-(2-R-1,2-dicarba-closo-carboranyl)naphthyl selenides (R = Me, 1; Ph, 2) were characterized by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction. The influence of the electronic nature of the substituents attached to the selenium atoms on the structural parameters and packing properties of naphthyl selenides are discussed. Theoretical calculations and cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies were carried out to compare the bonding nature of carboranyl and analogous aryl selenium compounds. Cyclic voltammetry studies of naphthyl carboranyl mono and diselenides have shown that the carboranyl fragment polarizes the Se lone pair making it less prone to generate a Se-Se bond.     

Molecular structure of substituted phenylamine alpha-OMe- and alpha-OH-p-benzoquinone derivatives. Synthesis and correlation of spectroscopic, electrochemical, and theoretical parameters.

Thirteen C(6) para-substituted anilinebenzoquinones derived from perezone (PZ) (2-(1,5-dimethyl-4-hexenyl)-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone) were prepared to analyze the effect of the substituents on quinone electronic properties. The effect of a hydrogen bond between the alpha-hydroxy and carbonyl C(4)-O(4) groups was determined in perezone derivatives by substituting electron-donor and electron-acceptor groups such as -OMe, -Me, -Br, and -CN and comparing the -OH (APZs) and -OMe (APZms) derivatives. Reduction potentials of these compounds were measured using cyclic voltammetry in anhydrous acetonitrile. The typical behavior of quinones, with or without alpha-phenolic protons, in an aprotic medium was not observed for APZs due to the presence of coupled, self-protonation reactions. The self-protonation process gives rise to an initial wave, corresponding to the irreversible reduction reaction of quinone (HQ) to hydroquinone (HQH(2)), and to a second electron transfer, attributed to the reversible reduction of perezonate (Q(-)) formed during the self-protonation process. This reaction is favored by the acidity of the alpha-OH located at the quinone ring. To control the coupled chemical reaction, we considered both methylation of the -OH group (APZms) and addition of a strong base, tetramethylammonium phenolate (Me(4)N(+)C(6)H(5)O(-)), to completely deprotonate the APZs. Methylation led to recovery of reversible, bi-electronic behavior (Q/Q(*)(-) and Q(*)(-)/Q(2)(-)), indicating the nonacidic properties of the NH group. The addition of a strong base resulted in reduction of perezonate (Q(-)) obtained from the acid-base reaction of APZs with Me(4)N(+)C(6)H(5)O(-) to produce the dianion radical (Q(*)(2)(-)). Although the nitrogen atom interferes with direct conjugation between both rings by binding the quinone with the para-substituted ring, the UV-vis spectra of these compounds showed the existence of intramolecular electronic transfer from the respective aniline to the quinone moiety. (13)C NMR chemical shifts of the quinone atoms provided additional evidence for this electron transfer. These findings were also supported by linear variation in cathodic peak potentials (E(pc)) vs Hammett sigma(p) constants associated with the different electrochemical transformations: Q/Q(*)(-), Q(*)(-)/Q(2)(-) for APZms or HQ/HQH(2) and Q(-)/Q(*)(2)(-) for APZs. The electronic properties of model anilinebenzoquinones were determined at a B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory within the framework of the density functional theory. Our theoretical calculations predicted that all the compounds are floppy molecules with a low rotational C-N barrier, in which the degree of conjugation of the lone nitrogen pair with the quinone system depends on the magnitude of the electronic effect of the substituents of the aniline ring. Natural charges show that C(1) is more positive than C(4) although the LUMO orbital is located at C(4). Hence, if the natural charge distribution in the molecule controls the first electron addition, this should occur at carbon atom C(1). If the process is controlled by the LUMO orbitals, however, electron addition would first occur at C(4). For the APZms series susceptibility of the first reduction wave to the substitution effect (rho(pi) = 147 mV) is lower than that of the second reduction wave (rho(pi) = 156 mV). Thus, the first, one-electron transfer in the quinone system is controlled by the natural charge distribution of the molecule and therefore takes place at C(1).     

Synthesis, gas-phase photoelectron spectroscopic, and theoretical studies of stannylated dinuclear iron dithiolates

Stannylated dinuclear iron dithiolates (mu-SSnMe(2)CH(2)S)[Fe(CO)(3)](2), (mu-SCH(2)SnMe(2)CH(2)S) [Fe(CO)(3)](2), and (mu-SCH(2)SnMe(3))(2)[Fe(CO)(3)](2), which are structurally similar to the active site of iron-only hydrogenase, were synthesized and studied by gas-phase photoelectron spectroscopy. The orbital origins of ionizations were assigned by comparison of He I and He II photoelectron spectra and with the aid of hybrid density functional electronic structure calculations. Stannylation lowers the ionization energy of sulfur lone pair orbitals in these systems owing to a geometry-dependent interaction. The Fe-Fe sigma bond, which is the HOMO in all these systems, is also substantially destabilized by stannylation due to a previously unrecognized geometry-dependent interaction between axial sulfur lone pair orbitals and the Fe-Fe sigma bond. Since cleaving the Fe-Fe sigma bond is a key step in the mechanism of action of iron-only hydrogenase, these newly recognized geometry-dependent interactions may be utilized in designing biologically inspired hydrogenase catalysts.     

On the use of empirically corrected theoretical procedures in preparative chemistry: Synthesis,spectroscopic and theoretical studies on 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzimidazol-2-one

The present work demonstrates the utility of the extended DFT-derived scaled quantum mechanical (SQM) force fields for predicting the product of a chemical synthesis, namely the reaction of 1,3-dihydrobenzimidazol-2-one with BSTFA [N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoro-acetamid]. Since the reactant has two tautomeric forms, the structure of product of the silylation reaction is not obvious. The calculated force fields of the potentially possible products were determined at the B3-LYP/6-31G* level and scaled by transferable scale factors obtained from the literature. The calculated SQM infrared (IR) spectra were numerically compared with the experimental IR spectrum of the product of the reaction. Several proximity measures (S scalar product, residual R-factor, and the standard RMS) between the calculated and experimental IR spectra have been calculated concluding that the product of the reaction is 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzimidazol-2-one. The NMR spectra of the product gave an independent validation of this result. The presented algorithmic method is able to form a basis for a more automatic procedure, e.g., in the field of the combinatorial syntheses. The S-factor seems to be the most useful proximity measure between a calculated and an experimental spectrum.     

Hexadecapropyloxy-substituted diphthalocyanine complexes of rare-earth elements: synthesis,spectroscopic and electrochemical studies

Hexadecapropyloxy-substituted diphthalocyanine complexes of rare-earth elements (REE = Lu, Tm, Sm) were synthesized. The new symmetrically substituted diphthalocyanine complexes prepared starting from 4,5-dipropyloxyphthalodinitrile (phthalogen) are characterized by better solubilities compared to the known hexadecamethyl-substituted diphthalocyanine complexes of the same REE. Spectral and electrochemical characteristics of the complexes were studied. The compounds can be used as materials for high-contrast electrochromic devices.     

Two fluoro compounds of main group elements: Synthesis,characterization, theoretical and spectroscopic study

Two new compounds of fluorine: (C₂H₅)₄N[I₂F] and (C₂H₅)₄N[Br₂F], have been easily synthesized in a nearly quantitative by a direct reaction of (C₂H₅)₄NF, I₂ and Br₂. The products were isolated and characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic methods such as: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). These compounds have been studied computationally with the Scalar ZORA relativistic level of theory using the ADF program package. The molecular parameters, and vibrational spectra were calculated. The excitation energies were found by timedependent perturbation density functional theory (TD-DFT). Molecule optimization, frequencies and excitation energies were calculated with standard Slatertype-orbital (STO) basis sets with triple-zeta quality double plus polarization functions (TZ2P) for all atoms. The FTIR, UV-Vis spectra and assignment of principal transitions and total density of state (TDOS) were extracted using the GaussSum 2.2 program. The comparison between experimental and calculated values showes that the experimental results correlate well with the predicted data.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic, electrochemical and Pb2+-binding studies of tetrathiafulvalene acetylene derivatives

A series of tetrathiafulvalene acetylene derivatives, [TTF-Ctriple bondC-A] [A=C6H4N(CH3)2-4 (1), C6H4OCH3-4 (2), C6H5 (3), C6H4F-4 (4), C6H4NO2-4 (5), C5H4N-2 (6), C5H4N-3 (7), and C5H4N-4 (8)], have been designed and synthesized to provide insight into the nature of the donor-acceptor interaction via a pi-conjugated triple bond. The X-ray crystal structure of [TTF-(Ctriple bondC)-C6H4OCH3-4] (2) reveals that the phenyl ring linked by acetylene is almost coplanar to the plane of TTF with a dihedral angle of 3.6 degrees. The strong intermolecular C-H...O hydrogen bonding was found to direct the molecular helical assemblies with a screw pitch of 5.148 A when viewed along the a-axis. Spectroscopic and electrochemical behaviors of the tetrathiafulvalene acetylene derivatives demonstrate that the TTF unit interacts with the electron-accepting group through the triple bond, thus leading to the intramolecular charge transfer. The pyridine-substituted TTF compounds 6-8 show remarkable sensing and coordinating properties toward Pb2+. Comparison of the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties and the calculation at the B3LYP/6-31G* level available in Gaussian 03 reveals that varying the bridged unit of the TTF-pi-A system from a double bond to a triple bond leads to positive shifts for the first and second oxidation potentials of the TTF moieties, while the extent of intramolecular charge transfer interactions through the pi-conjugated triple bond is smaller than that through the double bond.