Effect of the group IV elements on the Π anion and cation states of thiophene and furan determined by means of ETS and UPS

The electron-transmission and He(I) photoelectron spectra of Si(CH₃)₃, Sn(CH₃)₃ and CH₂Si(CH₃)₃ derivatives of thiophene and furan have been recorded. The first two substituents perturb the energies of the outer filled π orbitals and of the empty π* orbitals in opposite directions, causing a reduction of the HOMO/LUMO energy separation. The stabilization experienced by the π* MO's depends on their wavefunction coefficients at the site of substitution, and is attributed to interaction with low-lying empty orbitals of the substituent groups. The relatively small size (～ 0.4 eV) of this effect on the unoccupied ring MO's suggests that it should not appreciably affect the energy of the filled MO's.The strong conjugation between the π* unoccupied orbital of the nitro group and those of thiophene has also been investigated.