Room-temperature and solution-state observation of the mixed-valence cation radical dimer of tetrathiafulvalene, [(TTF)2]+*, within a self-assembled cage.

A mixed-valence state of the cation radical tetrathiafulvalene dimer, [(TTF)2]+*, is generated by the electrochemical oxidation of a stacked TTF dimer accommodated within an organic-pillared coordination cage. This mixed-valence species is remarkably stable (t1/2 = approximately 1 day at room temperature in aqueous solution under air) and clearly characterized by cyclic voltammogram and electronic absorption spectroscopy.