Bis(diamino-diamido)-tetrathiafulvalene, a redox active sensor for proton, anions, and cations.

A bis(diamino-diamido) tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivative H(4)L(2) has been designed and synthesized. Experiments of pH titration reveal that integrating the redox active TTF unit with the diamino-diamido moiety adds new properties to the traditional ligand. Oxidation of the TTF moiety increases the acidity of the amido group, and the coordination of metal ions is also sensitive to the oxidation state of the ligand. This compound is capable of acting as a leaving or accepting ligand for proton and metal ions. The electrochemistry of the protonated TTF derivative of H(4)L(2) was studied in the presence of a series of oxo anions and metal cations. The results indicate that the redox potentials selectively respond to HC(2)O(4)(-) and SO(4)(2-) anions, and Ni(II) and Cu(II) cations. Solid-state structures of a cation-anion salt H(8)L(2)·2SO(4)·8H(2)O and a nickel coordination compound [Ni(2)L(2)]·2DMF have been characterized by means of X-ray crystallography which are helpful in understanding the inter-ion interactions. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011