Synthesis of tris(tetrathiafulvaleno)dodecadehydro- [18]annulenes and their self-assembly.

[reaction: see text] Synthesis of electroactive tris(tetrathiafulvaleno)dodecadehydro[18]annulenes with ester substituents has been carried out with palladium-mediated cyclotrimerization of 4,5-diethynyl-TTFs. The TTF[18]annulenes produce stacked dimmers in solution and exhibit solvatochromism and thermochromism. The TTF[18]annulene-hexabutyl ester forms a molecular wire from an aqueous THF solution with cooperative S-S and pi-pi stacking interactions.