Synthesis of 2-Methyl-1-azulenyl Tetracyanobutadienes and Dicyanoquinodimethanes: Substituent Effect of 2-Methyl Moiety on the Azulene Ring toward the Optical and Electrochemical Properties
2-methyl-1-azulenyl group were investigated through the comparison with those of TCBDs and DCNQs with a 1-azulenyl substituent by employing the UV/vis spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. The electrochemical properties of the TCBD and DCNQ derivatives were also examined by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry experiments, which elucidated their multistep redox properties. Furthermore
been prepared by Cu-mediated cross- and homo-coupling reactions. The azulene-substituted butadiynes reacted with tetracyanoethylene in a formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction to afford the corresponding 1,1,4,4-tetracyanobutadiene chromophores, in excellent yields. Further [2 + 2] cycloaddition with TTF and TCNE gave novel donor–acceptor chromophores and novel azulene-substituted 6,6-dicyanofulvene derivatives