Functional macromolecules with electron-donating dithiafulvene unit

This review highlights the recent progress of macromolecules consisted of electron-donating dithiafulvene units. pi-Conjugated polymers with the dithiafulvene derivatives, including main-chain and side-chain systems, have been studied with the aim of improving processability of the charge-transfer (CT) complexes and increasing dimensionality of conduction state in the solid state. Such dithiafulvene structures have been applied not only for components of molecular conductor but also pi-rich redox active building blocks. Dendritic macromolecules comprised with tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) moiety have accomplished controlled and reversible multi-redox systems. Investigations of interlocked dithiafulvene superstructures toward intelligent molecular devices have been attractive subjects for many scientists. Instead of such dithiafulvene moieties, thioketene dimers have been emerged as promising donor molecules recently, and also utilized for an electroactive polymer and an interesting intramolecular CT system.