Selective Formation of a Mixed-Valence State from Linearly Bridged Oligo(aromatic diamines): Drastic Structural Change into a Folded Columnar Stack for Half-filled Polycations

A method to obtain an organic mixed-valence state with long-range delocalization is proposed, which enables the selective generation of half-filled (n/2-charged) polycations from linearly bridged oligomers with n electron-donating units. When π-extended phenylenediamine units are connected by meta-xylylene-type spacers, the resulting oligomers adopt non-folded structures in the neutral state owing to the non-conjugating and flexible nature of the spacer, whereas the structure shows a drastic change into a one-dimensional columnar stack upon oxidation to the corresponding half-filled polycations. Although they are nano-sized discrete molecules, they can mimic the electronic structure of crystalline organic conductors in a mixed-valence state. The key for the oligomer design is adoption of the best-matched spacer that facilitates formation of the singly charged pimer in the dichromophoric system whereas the corresponding doubly charged π-dimer is disfavored.