New Molecular Architecture for Electrically Conducting Materials Based on Unsymmetrical Organometallic-Dithiolene Complexes

New molecular architecture for highly conducting molecular materials was developed with use of unsymmetrical organometallic-dithiolene complexes. The new architecture has various advantages including easy modification of their molecular and electronic features. Organometallic complexes based on unsymmetrical Au(III)-dithiolene complexes [(ppy)Au(C8H4S8 or C8H4S6O2)] were prepared for new cationic components of molecular conductors. These unsymmetrical organometallic complexes can provide various cation radical salts [(ppy)Au(S-S)]2[anion][solvent] n (S-S = C8H4S8 or C8H4S6O2, anion = PF6 −, BF4 −, AsF6 −, TaF6 −, solvent = PhCl, n = 0–0.5) by constant current electrolysis of their benzonitrile or chlorobenzene solutions containing (Bu4N)(anion) as electrolyte. [(ppy)Au(C8H4S8)]2[PF6] under pressure is the first molecular metal based on the organometallic component. In this review, principle of the molecular architecture based on the unsymmetrical organometallic-dithiolene complexes and physical properties of their cation radical salts are discussed.