Bis(3-methylthio-1-azulenyl)phenylmethyl Cations and Dications Connected by a 1,4-Phenylene Spacer: Synthesis and Their Electrochemical Properties

The preparation of bis(3-methylthio-1-azulenyl)phenylmethyl cations and 1,4-phenylenebis[bis(3,6-di-tert-butyl-1-azulenyl)methyl] dications was accomplished by the hydride abstraction of the corresponding hydride derivatives, which were synthesized by the acid-catalyzed condensation of 1-azulenyl methyl sulfide with benzaldehyde and terephthalaldehyde with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone. The intramolecular charge transfer among the azulene ring and the methylium moieties of these cations and dications was investigated by UV–Vis spectroscopy and electrochemical analyses. The pKR+ values of the cations were examined for their thermodynamic stability spectrophotometrically. The voltammetry experiments of these cations revealed their reversible reduction waves on their cyclic voltammograms. Moreover, a notable spectral change of cations was observed by spectroelectrochemistry during electrochemical reduction conditions.