Synthesis, structure and charge state of the 1:4 molecular conductor (n-Bu4N)[Ni(dmit)2]4·MeCN

Abstract: A new molecular conductor (n-Bu4N)[Ni(dmit)2]4·MeCN (dmit=2-thioxo-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dithiolato) has been synthesized and its X-ray structure has been determined. The crystal exhibits conductivity 0.1Ω−1 cm−1 at room temperature and a semi-conducting behavior with small activation energy of 0.170eV (at 295K) and 0.065eV (at 95K). The coordination anions are arranged in a parallel fashion in the crystal forming two-dimensional networks, in which the face-to-face π–π longitudinal intermolecular interactions are stronger than the side-by-side S⋯S transverse interactions. The anionic stacks along the b-direction exhibit a type of tetrad structure. Infrared spectra suggest that the tetrad {4[Ni(dmit)2]}− may consist of one mono-anion [Ni(dmit)2]− and three neutral [Ni(dmit)2] units. The bond analysis further suggests that the single electron in the HOMO of [Ni(dmit)2]− can delocalize to its two neighboring [Ni(dmit)2] molecules to some extent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]