Synthesis and Single-Electron Oxidation of Bulky Bis(m-terphenyl)chalcogenides: The Quest for Kinetically Stabilized Radical Cations.

Abstract

Sterically encumbered bis(m-terphenyl)chalcogenides, (2,6-Mes2 C6 H3 )2 E (E=S, Se, Te) were obtained by the reaction of the chalcogen tetrafluorides, EF4 , with three equivalents of m-terphenyl lithium, 2,6-Mes2 C6 H3 Li. The single-electron oxidation of (2,6-Mes2 C6 H3 )2 Te using XeF2 /K[B(C6 F5 )4 ] afforded the radical cation [(2,6-Mes2 C6 H3 )2 Te][B(C6 F5 )4 ] that was isolated and fully characterized. The electrochemical oxidation of the lighter homologs (2,6-Mes2 C6 H3 )2 E (E=S, Se) was irreversible and impaired by rapid decomposition.