The π-radical cation as well as the dication species of a series of quinonoid π
-extended TTF have been
generated by means of time-resolved and steady-state radiation chemical techniques. The spectral characteristics
of the π-radical cation revealed fingerprint absorptions, which are predominantly in the red region of the
spectrum (570−690 nm). The maxima vary markedly upon altering (i) the substitution pattern of the TTF
rings (i.e., H, S−CH3 and S−CH2−CH2−S) and (ii) the different backbone structures (i.e., anthracene, tetracene,
and pentacene). In accordance with the electrochemical studies, which give rise to a single two-electron
oxidation step forming directly the π
-extended TTF dication, the π-radical cation intermediate is short-lived
and decays on a time scale of several tens of milliseconds. Clean second-order decay dynamics, indicative
for a disproportionation reaction of the π-radical cation into the corresponding dications, govern the instability
of the π-radical cation. By contrast the dication species is stable without showing a significant degradation
over minutes. All the generated dications show transitions that are significantly shifted to the blue (455−490
nm) relative to the π-radical cation intermediates and are dominated by the polyacenic unit.