Synthesis and Single-Electron Oxidation of Bulky Bis(m-terphenyl)chalcogenides: The Quest for Kinetically Stabilized Radical Cations.

Sterically encumbered bis(m-terphenyl)chalcogenides, (2,6-Mes C H ) E (E=S, Se, Te) were obtained by the reaction of the chalcogen tetrafluorides, EF , with three equivalents of m-terphenyl lithium, 2,6-Mes C H Li. The single-electron oxidation of (2,6-Mes C H ) Te using XeF /K[B(C F ) ] afforded the radical cation [(2,6-Mes C H ) Te][B(C F ) ] that was isolated and fully characterized. The electrochemical oxidation of the lighter homologs (2,6-Mes C H ) E (E=S, Se) was irreversible and impaired by rapid decomposition.