A family of dioxyarylene linked di-o-quinones. Structural dependence on the topology of the linker: a comparative study.

Multistability on the molecular scale level required for molecular devices can be realized using metallocomplexes with redox-active ligands such as o-quinones, o-quinoneimines and o-diimines as building blocks. Herein, we prepared four sterically shielded di-o-quinones bridged with a dioxyarylene linker with different topology and steric characteristics and studied the properties of their reduced species. EPR spectroscopy investigation revealed that the intramolecular exchange interaction between paramagnetic centers in the biradical dianion derivatives of synthesized di-o-quinones predominantly depends on the steric environment of the linker and the nature of the counter cation at the dioxolene site, and the topology of the linker plays a secondary role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]