Electroactive Bisiminopyridine Ligands: Synthesis and Complexation Studies

Abstract
The condensation reaction of (4-(6,7-dimethyldithio-tetrathiafulvalene)-aniline) with 2,6-diformylpyridine afforded an electroactive Schiff base (N,N,N) pincer (3). This pincer was reacted with Zn(II) cation to yield the corresponding Zinc chloride complex (4). The crystal structure of the newly prepared electroactive zinc complex reveals that the tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) is neutral and the zinc cation is pentacoordinated. The two chlorines are involved in a set of hydrogen bonds giving rise to a 2D supramolecular grid arrangement. The electronic absorption properties and the electrochemical behavior have been elucidated. These two compounds are promising for the construction of crystalline radical cation salts.