Benzo-Bridged Bis(1,2,3-dithiazoles) and Their Selenium Analogues. Preparation, Molecular and Electronic Structures, and Redox Chemistry

The condensation of diaminobenzenedithiol with sulfur monochloride leads to the chloride salt of the radical cation of 3,6-dichlorobenzo(1,2-d:4,5-d')bis(1,2,3-dithiazole), dichloro-(BB-123-DTA)(Cl), which can be reduced to neutral dichloro-(BB-123-DTA) with triphenylantimony. A similar condensation with selenium tetrachloride leads, upon reduction, to the corresponding bis(1,2,3-thiaselenazole) dichloro-(BB-123-TSA). The crystal and molecular structures of both compounds have been determined by X-ray diffraction. Both compounds, which are formally antiaromatic 16﷿-systems, exhibit internal bond lengths consistent with a quinoid formulation. The radical cations of both rings have been characterized by ESR spectroscopy; for dichloro-(BB-123-DTA) + g ) 2.0114 and aN ) 0.201 mT, while for dichloro-(BB-123-TSA) + g ) 2.021 and aN ) 0.44 mT. Further oxidation of both rings affords the corresponding dications, both of which have been characterized crystallographically as their AlCl 4 - salts. The structural features of these compounds are consistent with those expected for dithiazolylium (or thiaselenazolylium) derivatives. The structure and redox chemistry of the benzo(1,2-d:4,5-d')bis(1,2,3-dithiazole) framework is discussed in the light of the results of ab initio calculations.