A novel neutral organic electron donor with record half-wave potential.

Tricyclic donor 26 has been prepared and is the most reducing neutral ground-state organic molecule known, with an oxidation potential 260 mV more negative than the previous record. Cyclic voltammetry shows that a 2-electron reversible redox process occurs in DMF as solvent at -1.46 V vs. Ag/AgCl.

The development of organic super electron donors.

In the past decade, a host of exceptionally strong organic electron donors has been designed and prepared; their redox potentials are more negative than any previous neutral organic donors and extend beyond E(1/2) = -1 V vs. the saturated calomel electrode (SCE). Their ability to reduce a wide range of organic functional groups has been demonstrated and this article provides an overview of the main advances in the area and the guiding principles for the design of these reagents.