Synthesis and Electrochemical Behavior of Electroactive Bistetrathiafulvalene-attached Thiacalix[4]arene Assemblies

Tetrabromoalkylthiacalix[4]arenes(1a and 1b) reacted with excess bis(tetraethylammonium)-bis(1,3- dithiole-2-thione-4,5-dithiol)zincate(2) to give thiacalix[4]arene-thiones(3a and 3b) in the presence of Na₂S. Two novel bistetrathiafulvalene-attached thiacalix[4]arene assemblies(5a and 5b) formed via triethyl phosphite-mediated cross-coupling of thiacalix[4]arene-thiones(3a and 3b) and 4,5-biscyanoethylthio-1,3-dithiole-2-one(4). All the four new compounds were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, MS spectra and elemental analysis. Meanwhile, the structures of thiacalix[4]arene-thiones(3a and 3b) were identified by X-ray analysis. In addition, the cyclic voltammograms of the resulting thiacalix[4]arenes containing electroactive TTF units(5a and 5b) were provided.