A novel tetrathiafulvalene dimer, bridged by a chiral 1,3-diphenylallene framework, has been prepared as an optically active compound having strong chiroptical properties. Although a chiral allene bearing strong electron-donating group(s) often undergoes slow photoracemization even in daylight, the present allene is totally configurationally stable under ordinary conditions. Each isomer possesses pronounced chiroptical properties in its ECD spectra reflecting the chiral allene framework. Moreover, the elongation of the chiral main chain was also carried out by direct C-H activation of the TTF unit, and the chiroptical properties of the resulting polymer were also investigated.
Keywords: allene; axial chirality; chiroptical properties; redox; tetrathiafulvalene.