We review the magneto-structural properties of electron–electron correlated quasi-one- dimensional (1D) molecular organics. These weakly localized quarter-filled metallic-like systems with pronounced spin 1/2 antiferromagnetic (AF) interactions in stack direction exhibit a spin charge decoupling where magnetoelastic coupling picks up spin 1/2 to pair into S = 0 singlet dimers. This is well illustrated by the observation of a spin-Peierls (SP) instability in the (TMTTF)2X Fabre salts and related salts with the o-DMTTF donor. These instabilities are revealed by the formation of a pseudo-gap in the spin degrees of freedom triggered by the development of SP structural correlations. The divergence of these 1D fluctuations, together with the interchain coupling, drive a 3D-SP ground state. More surprisingly, we show that the Per2-M(mnt)2 system, undergoing a Kondo coupling between the metallic Per stack and the dithiolate stack of localized AF coupled spin ½ (for M = Pd, Ni, Pt), enhances the SP instability. Then, we consider the zig-zag spin ladder DTTTF2-M(mnt)2 system, where unusual singlet ground state properties are due to a combination of a 4kF charge localization effect in stack direction and a 2kF SP instability along the zig-zag ladder. Finally, we consider some specific features of correlated 1D systems concerning the coexistence of symmetrically different 4kF BOW and 4kF CDW orders in quarter-filled organics, and the nucleation of solitons in perturbed SP systems.

Synthesis and Properties of Fused Triad Donors Composed of Two 1,3-Dithiole[5]radialenes and Extended Tetrathiafulvalene

The electronic properties in the quasi-one-dimensional Fabre salts are strongly affected by electronic correlations along the molecular stacks, but also by the interactions with the anions located in a cage that is formed by the methyl end groups. We systematically compare the charge transport in deuterated and protonated (TMTTF)2X salts with the anions X = Br, PF6, SbF6, and ClO4, ranging from Mott and Efros–Shklovskii variable-range hopping to activated band transport with a temperature dependent energy gap. The strong dependence of charge localization and ordering on the anion size and deuteration confirms the subtle structural involvement of the anions in the charge transport along the TMTTF stack.

The one-dimensional extended Hubbard model with lattice dimerization and alternated site potentials is analyzed using the renormalization group method. The coupling of electrons to structural degrees of freedom such as the anion lattice and acoustic phonons is investigated to obtain the possible instabilities against the formation of lattice superstructures. Applications of the theory to anionic and spin-Peierls instabilities in the Fabre and Bechgaard salts series of organic conductors and ordered alloys are presented and discussed.

Cover Feature: Hydration of Polycationic [5]Radialene with Quintuple 1,3‐Dithiol‐2‐ylidenes Leads to a New Class of π‐Extended Tetrathiafulvalene Scaffold (Chem. Eur. J. 19/2019)

Key words Horner–Wittig reaction - tetrathiafulvalenes - electronic materials

In strongly correlated organic materials it has been pointed out that charge-ordering could also achieve electronic ferroelectricity at the same critical temperature $T_{co}$. A prototype of such phenomenon are the quasi-one dimensional (TMTTF)$_2X$ Fabre-salts. However, the stabilization of a long-range ferroelectric ground-state below $T_{co}$ requires the break of inversion symmetry, which should be accompanied by a lattice deformation. In this work we investigate the role of the monovalent counter-anion $X$ in such mechanism. For this purpose, we measured the quasi-static dielectric constant along the $c^{*}$-axis direction, where layers formed by donors and anions alternate. Our findings show that the ionic charge contribution is three orders of magnitude lower than the intra-stack electronic response. The $c^{*}$ dielectric constant ($\epsilon'_{c^*}$) probes directly the charge response of the monovalent anion $X$, since the anion mobility in the structure should help to stabilize the ferroelectric ground-state. Furthermore, our $\epsilon'_{c^*}$ measurements %conjugated with earlier investigations of the $c^*$ lattice thermal expansion, show that the dielectric response is thermally broaden below $T_{co}$ if the ferroelectric transition occurs in the temperature range where the anion movement begin to freeze in their methyl groups cavity. In the extreme case of the PF$_6$-H$_{12}$ salt, where $T_{co}$ occurs at the freezing point, a relaxor-type ferroelectricity is observed. Also, because of the slow kinetics of the anion sub-lattice, global hysteresis effects and reduction of the charge response upon successive cycling are observed. In this context, we propose that anions control the order-disorder or relaxation character of the ferroelectric transition of the Fabre-salts.

One-dimensional (1D) conductors such as Bechgaard and Fabre salts are a prototypal example of correlated systems where the phase diagram is controlled by sizable electron-electron repulsions. In deuterated ${(\mathrm{TMTTF})}_{2}\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{F}}_{6}$, where this interaction achieves charge localization at ambient pressure on donor stacks, magnetostructural coupling plays a decisive role to stabilize a spin-Peierls (SPs) ground state at ${T}_{\mathrm{SP}}=13\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$. In this paper, we present the first inelastic neutron scattering investigation of SP magnetic excitations in organics. Our paper reveals the presence above ${T}_{\mathrm{SP}}$ of sizable critical fluctuations leading to the formation of a pseudogap in the 1D antiferromagnetic (AF) $S=1/2$ magnetic excitation spectrum of the donor stack, concomitant with the local formation of singlet of paired spins into dimers below ${T}_{\mathrm{SP}}^{\mathrm{MF}}\ensuremath{\approx}40\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$. In addition, the inelastic neutron scattering investigation allows us also to probe the SP critical lattice dynamics and to show that at ambient pressure these dynamics are of relaxation or order-disorder type. Below ${T}_{\mathrm{SP}}$, our paper reveals the emergence of a two gap SP magnetic excitation spectrum towards a well-defined $S=1$ magnon mode and a continuum of two excitations, as theoretically predicted. Our measurements allow us to locate the ambient pressure SP phase of ${(\mathrm{TMTTF})}_{2}\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{F}}_{6}$ in the classical (adiabatic) limit close to the classical/quantum crossover line. Then we provide arguments suggesting that pressurized ${(\mathrm{TMTTF})}_{2}\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{F}}_{6}$ shifts to the quantum (antiadiabatic) SP gapped phase, which ends in a quantum critical point allowing the stabilization of an AF phase that competes with superconductivity at higher pressure. Finally, we propose that the magnetostructural coupling mechanism in the Fabre salts is caused by dimer charge/spin fluctuations driven by the coupling of donors with anions.

Bipolar electrochemistry has recently emerged as a very unique method to address conducting particles in a wireless manner. The technique is often applied to the fabrication of Janus particles; however the chemical nature of the bipolar electrode has been essentially limited to carbon- or metal-based materials. Here, we report for the first time the use of conducting organic single crystals as bipolar electrodes for the preparation of a new generation of Janus objects. Fabre and Bechgaard salts involving respectively tetrathia- and tetraselenafulvalene were selected for proof-of-concept experiments. Such an approach allows to preserve the integrity of these fragile substrates because it necessitates neither electronic wiring nor mechanical contact. The site-selective electrodeposition of copper is successfully achieved, leading thus to a new metal–organic Janus structure. Subsequently, asymmetric generation of photovoltage under illumination is achieved due to the anisotropic presence of copper, making th...

In a comprehensive infrared study, the molecular vibrational features of (TMTTF)2SbF6, (TMTTF)2AsF6 and (TMTTF)2PF6 single crystals have been measured down to temperatures as low as 7 K by applying hydrostatic pressure up to 11 kbar. We follow the charge disproportionation below the critical temperatures TCO as pressure increases, and determine the critical pressure values pCO at which the charge-ordered phase is suppressed. The coexistence of the spin-Peierls phase with charge order is explored at low temperatures, and the competition of these two phases is observed. Based on our measurements we construct a generic phase diagram of the Fabre salts with centrosymmetric anions. The pressure-dependent anion and methyl-group dynamics in these quasi-one-dimensional charge transfer compounds yields information about the interplay of the organic molecules in the stacks and the anions, and how this interaction varies upon the transition to the charge-ordered state.

ABSTRACTModel of electronic subsystem of Fabre salts (TMTTF)2X and Bechgaard salts (TMTSF)2X has been studied theoretically within Green function equation of motion approach with special attention to microscopical mechanism for antiferromagnetic order stabilization and pseudogap formation in the electronic spectrum. Conditions for pseudogap opening in the spectrum and anomalies in dispersion of current carriers are determined. Next-nearest-neighbor hopping is shown to break the perfect nesting property and destabilize antiferromagnetic state. On the basis of these results, experimental phase diagrams for quasi-one-dimensional organic superconductors (TMTSF)2X and (TMTTF)2X are interpreted.

High-resolution near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) measurements at the As M-edge, F K-edge and S L-edge of the Fabre salt (TMTTF)2AsF6 were performed from room temperature (RT) to 90 K, allowing to reach the charge localization regime below Tρ ≈ 230 K and to cross the charge ordering (CO) transition at TCO ≈ 102 K. The F K-edge and S L-edge spectra exhibit several transitions which have been indexed on the basis of first-principles DFT calculations. Upon cooling from RT significant energy shifts up to +0.8 eV and -0.4 eV were observed in transitions exhibited by the F 1s and S 2p spectra respectively, while the As 3p doublet does not show a significant shift. Opposite energy shifts found in the F 1s and S 2p spectra reflect substantial thermal changes in the electronic environment of F atoms of the anion and S atoms of TMTTF. The changes found around the charge localization crossover suggest an increase of the participation of the S d orbitals in the empty states of TMTTF as well as an increase of the strength of donoranion interactions. A new F 1s pre-edge signal detected upon entry into the CO phase is a clear fingerprint of the symmetry breaking occurring at TCO. We propose that this new transition is caused by a substantial mixing between the HOMO of the AsF6(-) anion and the unoccupied part of the TMTTF HOMO conduction band. Analysis of the whole spectra also suggests that the loss of the inversion symmetry associated with the CO is due to an anion displacement increasing the strength of SF interactions. Our data show unambiguously that anions are not, as previously assumed, innocent spectators during the electronic modifications experienced by the Fabre salts upon cooling. In particular the interpretation of the spectra pointing out a thermally dependent mixing of anion wave functions with those of the TMTTF chains demonstrates for the first time the importance of anion-donor interactions.

Interplay between electronic and structural degrees of freedom in quarter-filled low dimensional conductors

Core-level photoemission spectra of the Fabre salts with X = SbF6 and PF6 were taken using hard X-rays from PETRA III, Hamburg. In these salts TMTTF layers show a significant stack dimerization with a charge transfer of 1e per dimer to the anion SbF6 or PF6. At room temperature and slightly below the core-level spectra exhibit single lines, characteristic for a well-screened metallic state. At reduced temperatures progressive charge localization sets in, followed by a 2nd order phase transition into a charge-ordered ground state. In both salts groups of new core-level signals occur, shifted towards lower kinetic energies. This is indicative of a reduced transverse-conductivity across the anion layers, visible as layer-dependent charge depletion for both samples. The surface potential was traced via shifts of core-level signals of an adsorbate. A well-defined potential could be established by a conducting cap layer of 5 nm aluminum which appears “transparent” due to the large probing depth of HAXPES (8–10 nm). At the transition into the charge-ordered phase the fluorine 1s line of (TMTTF)2SbF6 shifts by 2.8 eV to higher binding energy. This is a spectroscopic fingerprint of the loss of inversion symmetry accompanied by a cooperative shift of the SbF6 anions towards the more positively charged TMTTF donors. This shift does not occur for the X = PF6 compound, most likely due to smaller charge disproportion or due to the presence of charge disorder.

We review structural aspects of the Bechgaard and Fabre salts in relationship with their electronic, magnetic and superconducting properties. We emphasize the role of bond and charge modulations of the quarter filled organic stack in the various instabilities and ground states exhibited by these salts. A special consideration is also devoted to the influence of anions and methyl groups in these processes. In particular we point out the importance of the anions in achieving the inter-stack coupling by either direct or indirect (via the polarization of the methyl group cavities) interactions with the donors. In this framework we discuss the role of anions and methyl group disorders in the inhibition of the divergence of the high temperature bond order wave instability of the Bechgaard salts. We analyze the modulation in the magnetic ground states by considering explicitly the coupling of the magnetization with structural degrees of freedom. We consider the role of the anions and methyl groups in stabilizing the charge ordering pattern in the Fabre salts. We also discuss the spin-Peierls transition of the Fabre salts in relation with the charge ordering transition and the adiabaticity of the phonon field. We review the anion ordering transitions by considering more particularly the influence of the ordering process on the electronic structure and on the ground states which results. In this framework we show that the texture of the anion ordered structure has direct consequences on the superconducting properties of (TMTSF)2ClO4. Finally we conclude on the essential implication of the structural degrees of freedom on the generic phase diagram of the Bechgaard and Fabre salts.

Two new boron-based conjugated compounds 1 and 2 containing one and three monopyrrolo-annelated tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) unit(s) were synthesized and characterized. They exhibit typical ICT absorptions which can be modulated after addition of fluoride ion. In addition, the oxidation potentials of 1 and 2 are shifted to low potential region in the presence of fluoride ion. Such absorption spectral and electrochemical responsiveness of 1 and 2 toward fluoride ion is due to the binding of the boron units with fluoride ion.

Enrichment of metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has been accomplished by several means, including new extraction and synthetic procedures and by interaction with metal nanoparticles as well as electron donor molecules. In the presence of Fe(CO)5, the arc discharge method yields nearly pure metallic nanotubes. Fluorous chemistry involving the preferential diazotization of metallic SWNTs offers a good procedure of obtaining the pure metallic species. Interaction of gold or platinum nanoparticles as well as of electron-donor molecules such as aniline and tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) transform semiconducting SWNTs into metallic ones. Raman and electronic spectroscopies provide ideal means to monitor enrichment of metallic SWNTs.

Some linear and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of Ni(SCH)(4) and several of its derivatives have been computed by employing a series of basis sets and a hierarchy of methods (e.g., HF, DFT, coupled cluster, and multiconfigurational techniques). The electronic structure of Ni(SCH)(4) has been also analyzed by using CASSCF/CASPT2, ab initio valence bond, and DFT methods. In particular we discuss how the diradicaloid character (DC) of Ni(SCH)(4) significantly affects its NLO properties. The quasidegeneracy of the two lowest-energy singlet states 1 (1)A(g) and 1 (1)B(1u), the clear DC nature of the former, and the very large number of low-lying states enhance the NLO properties values. These particular features are used to interpret the NLO properties of Ni(SCH)(4). The DC of the considered derivatives has been estimated and correlated with the NLO properties. CASVB computations have shown that the structures with Ni(II) are the dominant ones, while those with Ni(0) and Ni(IV) have negligible weight. The weights of the four diradical structures were discussed in connection with the weight of the structures, where all the electrons are paired. Comparative discussion of the properties of Ni(SCH)(4) with those of tetrathia fulvalene demonstrates the very large effect of Ni on the properties of the Ni-dithiolene derivatives. A similar remarkable effect on the NLO properties is produced by one or two methyl or C(3)S groups. The considered Ni-dithiolene derivatives have exceptionally large NLO properties. This feature in connection with their other physical properties makes them ideal candidates for photonic applications.

A new porphyrintetrathiafulvalene composite, where two porphyrins are bridged by te trathiafulvalene (TTF) using acetylene bonds was synthesized. The Q-band of the monomeric porphyrin appears at 590 nm whereas that of the composite is red-shifted to 620 nm and intensified. The Soret band is also red-shifted from 427 nm to 435 nm and much broadened, indicating the expansion of π-conjugation over the porphyrin and tetrathiafulvalene units. The HOMOs and LUMOs were calculated using time-dependent density functional theory. Voltammetric experiments revealed that the first oxidation potential of the TTF moiety in the composite was shifted by +155 mV compa red with TTF in the absence of composite. The effective two-photon absorption (2PA) cross section values were measured by using a nanosecond open aperture Z-scan method. The maximum effective 2PA cross section values were obtained at 760 nm, as 7300 GM in benzonitrile and 5900 GM in toluene. The values obtained in the polar solvent were 1.2 to 1.5 times larger than those in the nonpolar solvent.

Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF.