Intramolecular electron transfer within the substituted tetrathiafulvalene-quinone dyads: facilitated by metal ion and photomodulation in the presence of spiropyran.

Intramolecular electron transfer is observed for two new substituted tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-quinone dyads 1 and 2 in the presence of metal ions. On the basis of the electrochemical studies of reference compound 5 and the comparative studies with dyad 3, it was proposed that the synergic coordination of the radical anion of quinone and the oligoethylene glycol chain with metal ions may be responsible for stabilizing the charge-separation state and thus facilitating the electron-transfer process. Most interestingly, the intramolecular electron-transfer processes within these two dyads can be modulated by UV-vis light irradiation in the presence of spiropyran, by taking advantage of its unique properties.