Inclusion complexes of fullerenes with flexible tetrathiafulvalene derivatives bearing four aryls through sulfur bridges

Abstract

TTF derivatives decorated with four aryls through the sulfur bridges are employed to form the donor–acceptor type inclusion complexes with fullerenes. The key factor for the formation of inclusion complexes is the introduction of structural flexibility in TTF molecules along with the molecular size matching with fullerenes. A crystallographic study indicates that the structures of the resulting complexes are stabilized by a multidimensional intermolecular interaction network consisting of TTF cores, peripheral aryls, and fullerenes, which in turn gives rise to the electronic communication between the donor and the acceptor as proved by the solid state absorption spectra. Moreover, the fullerene molecules form the two-dimensional sheet structure in the complexes.