Chemistry of organic metals: Synthesis of bis(diseleno alkyl)tetrathiafulvalene, mixed sulfur-selenium analogs of BEDT-TTF

A general method for the synthesis of mixed sulfur-selenium analogs of bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (ET) starting with tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) is described. Protecting the tetraseleno-TTF intermediate with trimethylsilylethoxymethyl (SEM) groups provided the key intermediate for the synthesis of ET analogs having the selenium atoms in the outer rings on a tetrathiafulvalene center. © 1987.