An asymmetric TTF derivative bearing a phenyl β-diketone group as an efficient ligand towards functional materials

A novel asymmetric tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivative bearing a conjugated phenyl β-diketone moiety 1-(4-tetrathiafulvalyphenyl)-4,4,4- trifluorobutane-1,3-dione (TTF-ph-tfacH) has been synthesized using feasible methods and fully characterized. The chelating ability of its enolate anion (TTF-ph-tfac) has been investigated with [M^IICl₂· xH₂O] (M = Zn and Co) leading to complexes [Zn(TTF-ph-tfac) ₂(CH₃OH)₂] (2a) and [Co(TTF-ph-tfac) ₂(CH₃OH)₂] (2b), where the metal center is coordinated with two TTF-ph-tfac ligands and two methanol molecules. This redox active ligand shows promising features for the elaboration of hybrid organic-inorganic building blocks. The magnetic analysis for 2b reveals very weak antiferromagnetic interactions between spin centers, which would be a precursor for magnetic conductors. The herein reported mono-substituted TTF derivative interconnected via the phenyl group, which is of extended conjugation, enhanced planarity, and asymmetric geometry, shows a great promise to multifunctional (conducting, non-linear optical, and magnetic) materials.