Molecular and crystal properties of E-1,2-bis(3-methoxy-2-thienyl)ethene: static disorder in the crystal.

The crystal structure of E-1,2-bis(3-methoxy-2-thienyl)ethene (C12H12O2S2) has been determined at five different temperatures, i.e. room temperature (293 ), 223, 173, 123 and 93 K. The solid-state work is complemented by the results of theoretical calculations of energies, geometries, difference electron densities and atomic charges of the free molecule. Analysis revealed static disorder caused by a higher energy conformer of the title compound, probably contaminating the crystal during its growth. The results support the contention that the electrical properties are mainly governed by the carbon backbone.