Catalytic C-H Arylation of Tetrathiafulvalenes for the Synthesis of Functional Materials

Sulfur-containing functional pi-conjugated cores play key roles in materials science, mostly due to their unique electrochemical and photophysical properties. Among these, the excellent electron donor tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) has occupied a central position since the emergence of organic electronics. Peripheral C-H modification of this highly useful sulfur-containing motif has resulted in the efficient creation of new molecules that expand the applications of TTFs. This Short Review begins with the development of the palladium-catalyzed direct C-H arylation of TTF. Subsequently, it summarizes the applications of this efficient C-H transformation for the straightforward synthesis of useful TTF derivatives that are employed in a variety of research fields, demonstrating that the development of a new reaction can have a significant impact on chemical science.