Synthesis and Characterization of Charge Transfer Salts Based on [ M ( dcdmp ) 2 ] ( M = Au , Cu and Ni ) with TTF type donors

C2TN, Centro de Cie ̂ncias e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, E.N. 10 ao km 139.7, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal; rafaela@ctn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt (R.A.L.S.); icsantos@ctn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt (I.C.S.); sandrar@ctn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt (S.R.); eblopes@ctn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt (E.B.L.); vascog@ctn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt (V.G.); malmeida@ctn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt (M.A.) * Correspondence: dbelo@ctn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt; Tel.: +351-21-955-6203


Introduction
After about 50 years of intensive studies, transition metal bisdithiolene complexes still continue to be actively explored as building blocks for molecular conducting and magnetic materials due to their interesting and unique structural and electronic properties [1].Some attractive features of these types of complexes are the diversity of coordination geometries that metal centres can adopt, as well as, depending on the transition metal or the oxidation state, the accessibility to several oxidation states and different magnetic moments [2].The square planar coordination geometry and the delocalised π-nature of the ligands favour, in the solid state, the formation of extended networks of π-π interactions, which can give rise to interesting properties such as ferromagnetism [3], spin-ladder behaviour [4,5], and metallic [6,7], or even superconducting, properties [8,9].Extended dithiolene π-ligands containing N atoms are significantly less explored when compared to sulphur rich ligands, which have been favoured to build intermolecular S•••S contacts with improved dimensionality in the solid state [10].However, the N atoms in dithiolene ligands are now known to act as an extra coordinating site that can provide an additional degree of freedom in the crystal engineering of these solids [11].
[M(dcdmp) 2 ] complexes based on extended dithiolene π-ligand-containing N atoms (Scheme 1a) are, in this context, attractive anions.The dcdmp ligand as an extended π-system is expected to be able to increase the electronic delocalization, and the pyrazine nitrogen atoms can lead to an increase of intermolecular interactions [11][12][13][14] when compared with complexes based on other ligands such as mnt (mnt = maleonitriledithiolate) (Scheme 1a).The Au, Ni, and Cu complexes were previously combined with TTF-type donors, resulting in salts of different stoichiometries, including (DT-TTF) 2 [Cu(dcdmp) 2 ] (DT-TTF = dithiophene-tetrathiafulvalene) with a ladder-like structure [15,16].In order to further explore [M(dcdmp) 2 ] anions as possible building blocks for molecular materials, these complexes with M = Au, Cu, and Ni were combined with different donors related to DT-TTF; the aromatic α-DT-TTF, the non-aromatic BET-TTF, the disymmetric thiophenic derivative α-mtdt, and the well-known ET donor (Scheme 1b).The electrical transport properties of salts will critically depend on the relative oxidation state of the molecular building blocks and their capability to establish extended networks of regular interactions.Salts in 1:1 stoichiometry, with full charge transfer between donor and acceptor, lead to half-filled bands, which, in molecular systems with narrow bands, will invariably behave as Mott insulators.Therefore, partial oxidation of the molecular building blocks in a regular network of strong interactions is usually a condition for high electrical conductivity.However, in spite of recent progresses in crystal engineering, both the stoichiometry and crystal structure of molecular salts remain largely unpredictable [1,4].Extended dithiolene π-ligands containing N atoms are significantly less explored when compared to sulphur rich ligands, which have been favoured to build intermolecular S•••S contacts with improved dimensionality in the solid state [10].However, the N atoms in dithiolene ligands are now known to act as an extra coordinating site that can provide an additional degree of freedom in the crystal engineering of these solids [11].
[M(dcdmp)2] complexes based on extended dithiolene π-ligand-containing N atoms (Scheme 1a) are, in this context, attractive anions.The dcdmp ligand as an extended π-system is expected to be able to increase the electronic delocalization, and the pyrazine nitrogen atoms can lead to an increase of intermolecular interactions [11][12][13][14] when compared with complexes based on other ligands such as mnt (mnt = maleonitriledithiolate) (Scheme 1a).The Au, Ni, and Cu complexes were previously combined with TTF-type donors, resulting in salts of different stoichiometries, including (DT-TTF)2[Cu(dcdmp)2] (DT-TTF = dithiophene-tetrathiafulvalene) with a ladder-like structure [15,16].In order to further explore [M(dcdmp)2] anions as possible building blocks for molecular materials, these complexes with M = Au, Cu, and Ni were combined with different donors related to DT-TTF; the aromatic α-DT-TTF, the non-aromatic BET-TTF, the disymmetric thiophenic derivative α-mtdt, and the well-known ET donor (Scheme 1b).The electrical transport properties of salts will critically depend on the relative oxidation state of the molecular building blocks and their capability to establish extended networks of regular interactions.Salts in 1:1 stoichiometry, with full charge transfer between donor and acceptor, lead to half-filled bands, which, in molecular systems with narrow bands, will invariably behave as Mott insulators.Therefore, partial oxidation of the molecular building blocks in a regular network of strong interactions is usually a condition for high electrical conductivity.However, in spite of recent progresses in crystal engineering, both the stoichiometry and crystal structure of molecular salts remain largely unpredictable [1,4].
(ET) 2 [Ni(dcdmp) 2 ] (6).Crystals were obtained by electrocrystallization from a dichloromethane solution of the donor and nickel acceptor salt in approximately stoichiometric amounts.The system was sealed under nitrogen and after 18 days, with a current density of 0.5 µA•cm −2 ; brown plate shape crystals were collected and washed with dichloromethane.

X-ray Crystallography
X-ray diffraction studies were performed with a Bruker APEX-II CCD detector diffractometer using graphite monochromated Mo-Kα radiation (λ = 0.71073 Å), in the ϕ and ω scans mode.A semi empirical absorption correction was carried out using SADABS [24].Data collection, cell refinement, and data reduction were done with the SMART and SAINT programs [25].X-ray data for the (ET) 2 [Ni(dcdmp) 2 ] compound were collected at room temperature on an Enraf-Nonius CAD-4 (Enraf-nonius, 1989) automatic diffractometer using graphite monochromated Mo-Kα (λ = 0.71069 Å, 50 kV, 26 mA) radiation.Unit-cell dimensions and the orientation matrix were obtained from least-squares refinement of the setting angles of 25 reflections in the range 14 • < 2θ < 24 • .The data set was collected in the ω-2θ scan mode.The intensities were corrected for Lorentz, polarisation, and absorption effects by empirical corrections based on psi-scans using the Enraf-Nonius reduction program, MoIEN [26].The structures were solved by direct methods using SIR97 [27] and refined by fullmatrix least-squares methods using the program SHELXL97 [28] using the winGX software package [29].Non-hydrogen atoms were refined with anisotropic thermal parameters, whereas H-atoms were placed in idealised positions and allowed to refine riding on the parent C atom.Molecular graphics were prepared using Mercury [30].The positional disorder of S and C atoms in the thiophenic rings (compounds 1, 2T, 3, 4, and 5) was refined by the SHELXL instruction PART (PART 1 and PART 2), and the occupancies of disordered atoms were allowed to refine freely and possess any ratio.

Electric Transport Properties
Electrical conductivity measurements were made in single crystals along their long axis using a closed cycle helium refrigerator in the temperature range of 50-320 K and a four-in-line contact configuration by attaching four Ø = 25 µm Au wires to the single crystals with Pt paint (Demetron 308A).The measurement cell [31] is controlled by a computer [32].In the case of more conducting samples a low-frequency four-probe AC method (77 Hz) was used [33], with a SRS Model SR83 Lock-in Amplifier while applying a 5 µA current; for the more resistive samples, a four-probe DC method was used instead, using a Keithley 224 current source to apply both direct and reverse DC currents, well below 0.1 µA, through the sample and a Keithley 619 electrometer to measure the corresponding DC voltage.Sample electrodes configuration was checked for unnested to nested voltage ratio, as defined by Schaffer et al. [34].6), and α-mtdt[Cu(dcdmp) 2 ] (7).These compounds were obtained as single crystals with size and quality suitable for X-ray diffraction and electrical transport properties measurements.
α-DT-TTF[Au(dcdmp)2] (1) crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P21.The asymmetric unit cell contains one [Au(dcdmp)2] − anion and one α-DT-TTF donor molecule, both at general positions (Figure 1a, Table S1).The donor molecule presents a slight boat type distortion, while the [Au(dcdmp)2] − anion is essentially planar, within the range of experimental error (Figure 1a).The donor molecule presents a disorder in the sulphur atom S10 in one of the thiophenic rings with an occupation factor of 59-41% (S10/C21-S10A/C21A).The crystal structure of 1 is composed of mixed stacks of alternating donor-acceptor molecules (D + A − D + A − D + A − ) along the a axis (Figure 2a).Along the stacks there are no short contacts below the sum of van der Waals radii, although the average molecular plane distances between the donor and acceptor The crystal structure of 1 is composed of mixed stacks of alternating donor-acceptor molecules (D + A − D + A − D + A − ) along the a axis (Figure 2a).Along the stacks there are no short contacts below the sum of van der Waals radii, although the average molecular plane distances between the donor and acceptor molecules of 3.47 Å suggest significant π-π interactions.By contrast, the molecules in neighbouring stacks are connected through a 2D network of short contacts.Along b, the molecules short axis, the stacks are in registry, and several S•••S interactions between D + /D + , A − /A − and D + /A − are observed (Figure 2a 2 , Table S2).Along c, the molecules longest axis, the stacks are out-of-registry and D + /A − interactions observed are mediated through the nitrile group of the acceptor and the thiophenic sulphur or the hydrogen atoms of the donor molecule (Table S2).Along c, the stacks are related by a 2-fold screw axis, and molecules in nearby stacks have a dihedral angle of ≈60 • .This kind of pattern is very similar to those found in the salts family of DT-TTF m [M(dcdmp) 2 ] n (M = Ni, Au and Cu) [15,16].S2).Along c, the molecules longest axis, the stacks are out-of-registry and D + /A − interactions observed are mediated through the nitrile group of the acceptor and the thiophenic sulphur or the hydrogen atoms of the donor molecule (Table S2).Along c, the stacks are related by a 2-fold screw axis, and molecules in nearby stacks have a dihedral angle of ≈60°.This kind of pattern is very similar to those found in the salts family of DT-TTFm[M(dcdmp)2]n (M = Ni, Au and Cu) [15,16].In the case of BET-TTF[Au(dcdmp)2] (2), two different crystal structures with a 1:1 stoichiometry were obtained from the same preparation by electrocrystallization, with one crystallizing in the monoclinic system space group P21/c (2M) and the other in the triclinic system space group P-1 (2T).In both crystal structures, the [Au(dcdmp)2] acceptor presents bond lengths typical of a monoanion [20,35], and therefore BET-TTF donor molecules must be in a fully oxidized monocationic state.
Although not isostructural, the 2M salt resembles the crystal structure of 1.Its asymmetric unit cell contains one independent (BET-TTF) + molecule and one [Au(dcdmp)2] − anion, with both at general positions (Figure 1b, Table S3).The BET-TTF molecule presents a slight boat type distortion, whilst the [Au(dcdmp)2] has a very small chair-type distortion (Figure 1b).With a similar packing pattern to 1, the crystal structure is composed of mixed stacks of alternating donor-acceptor molecules (D + A − D + A − D + A − ) along the a axis (Figure S1).As in 1, there are no short contacts between molecules along the stacks.Between molecules in neighbouring stacks, the same type of short contacts as in 1 are observed (Table S4).
In the case of 2T, the unit cell contains one independent BET-TTF + cation and one independent [Au(dcdmp)2] − anion, both in an inversion centre (Figure 1c, Table S5).The BET-TTF + molecule is essentially planar, within experimental error, whilst the [Au(dcdmp)2] − monoanionic complex In the case of BET-TTF[Au(dcdmp) 2 ] (2), two different crystal structures with a 1:1 stoichiometry were obtained from the same preparation by electrocrystallization, with one crystallizing in the monoclinic system space group P2 1 /c (2M) and the other in the triclinic system space group P-1 (2T).In both crystal structures, the [Au(dcdmp) 2 ] acceptor presents bond lengths typical of a monoanion [20,35] and therefore BET-TTF donor molecules must be in a fully oxidized monocationic state.
Although not isostructural, the 2M salt resembles the crystal structure of 1.Its asymmetric unit cell contains one independent (BET-TTF) + molecule and one [Au(dcdmp) 2 ] − anion, with both at general positions (Figure 1b, Table S3).The BET-TTF molecule presents a slight boat type distortion, whilst the [Au(dcdmp) 2 ] has a very small chair-type distortion (Figure 1b).With a similar packing pattern to 1, the crystal structure is composed of mixed stacks of alternating donor-acceptor molecules Crystals 2018, 8, 141 7 of 16 (D + A − D + A − D + A − ) along the a axis (Figure S1).As in 1, there are no short contacts between molecules along the stacks.Between molecules in neighbouring stacks, the same type of short contacts as in 1 are observed (Table S4).
In the case of 2T, the unit cell contains one independent BET-TTF + cation and one independent [Au(dcdmp) 2 ] − anion, both in an inversion centre (Figure 1c, Table S5).The BET-TTF + molecule is essentially planar, within experimental error, whilst the [Au(dcdmp) 2 ] − monoanionic complex presents a slight chair-type distortion (Figure 1c).Unlike in 2M, in the crystal structure of 2T, the BET-TTF molecule shows disorder in the thiophenic sulphur atoms S3 with two positions with occupation factors of 79-21% (S3/C10-S3A/C10A).The crystal structure of 2T is also composed of mixed stacks of alternating donor-acceptor molecules (D + A − D + A − D + A − ), along the b axis (Figure 2b), in the same fashion found in 1 and 2M.The main difference in 2T is the relative arrangement between layers, which in this case is "in line" and not related by a dihedral angle of ≈60 • and the displaced overlapping mode between molecules along the stacks (Figure 2a 3 ,b 3 ).Polymorph 2T has a short hydrogen bond (N3•••H10C-C10A) along the stacks, which is inexistent in the 2M structure, probably due to the slightly shorter interplanar distances (Figure 2b 2 ).Apart from these differences, the observed pattern of short contacts between molecules in neighbouring stacks is similar to the observed in compounds 1 and 2M (Table S6).
In the previously reported salts of [M(dcdmp)2] with DT-TTF [15], the change of the central transition metal of [M(dcdmp)2] − anion, from gold to copper, did not introduce considerable changes in the crystal structure.Nevertheless, in the case of the copper salts an unusual richness of different stoichiometries, 1:1, 2:1, and 3:2 stoichiometries were found, with the crystal structures being arranged both in segregated and mixed stacks of donors and acceptors [15].α-DT-TTF[Cu(dcdmp)2] (3) was found to be isostructural to the previously reported ET[Au(dcdmp)2] [35], crystallizing in the monoclinic system, space group P21/c.The asymmetric unit contains one [Cu(dcdmp)2] − anion and one donor molecule, both at general positions (Figure 3, Table S7).The donor molecules are planar within experimental error, whereas [Cu(dcdmp)2] − anions present a slight boat type distortion (Figure 3).The α-DT-TTF donor molecule in compound 3 presents a disorder in the thiophenic sulphur atoms S7 and S10 over two possible positions with occupation factors of 66-34% (S7/C16-S7A/C16A) and 59-41% (S10/C21-S10A/C21A).The bond length analysis of [Cu(dcdmp)2] − confirms its monoanionic state (Table S8), and therefore the donor molecules are fully oxidized.S9).Along the chain, the average dihedral angles between anions and cations alternate between 4.67° and 54.75°, conferring a wave shape to the chain.Along b, the chains are stacked, forming a 2D network of short S•••S contacts between A − -D + and D + -D + molecules.Apart from the S•••S network of short contacts, several hydrogen bonds of the C-H•••N and C-H•••S type give stability to this 2D structure and also connect acceptor to donor along the a axis, parallel to the longest molecular axis of both donor and acceptor molecules (Table S9).The ET[Cu(dcdmp)2] salt ( 4) is isostructural with 3 (Figures S2 and S3, Tables S8, S10, and S11).S9).Along the chain, the average dihedral angles between anions and cations alternate between 4.67 • and 54.75 • , conferring a wave shape to the chain.Along b, the chains are stacked,  S9).The ET[Cu(dcdmp) 2 ] salt (4) is isostructural with 3 (Figures S2 and S3, Tables S8, S10, and S11).Another unexpected crystal structure was found when the donor molecule was changed from α-DT-TTF to the relative non-aromatic BET-TTF, which was not isostructural to compound 3 or to compound 2. In this case, a 2:1 stoichiometry was found, probably due to the spontaneous redox reaction that occurs when combining the [Cu(dcdmp)2] − monoanion with the donor BET-TTF, leading to a reduction of the acceptor molecule to a dianionic state (E1/2 = +206 mV) by the full oxidation of the donor molecule (E1/2 = +215 mV) [18,21].
(BET-TTF)2[Cu(dcdmp)2] (5) crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P-1.The asymmetric unit is composed of one independent BET-TTF molecule at general position and half [Cu(dcdmp)2] complex, with the Cu atom in an inversion center (Figure 5a, Table S12), whereas the donor molecule presents a small boat type distortion with the methylene extremities with an envelope type distortion at opposite directions, and the [Cu(dcdmp)2] anion has a small chair-type distortion (Figure 5a).The BET-TTF donor unit presents disorder in the sulphur atoms of the thiophenic ring over two possible positions, S5 and S8, with occupation factors of 46-54% (in both S5/C10-S5A/C10A and S8/C15-S8A/C15A).The bond lengths analysis indicates that the donor molecule is fully oxidized, while the copper complex is in a dianionic state; therefore, the compound should be formulated as (BET-TTF + )2[Cu(dcdmp)2] 2− (Tables S13 and S14).
(a) Another unexpected crystal structure was found when the donor molecule was changed from α-DT-TTF to the relative non-aromatic BET-TTF, which was not isostructural to compound 3 or to compound 2. In this case, a 2:1 stoichiometry was found, probably due to the spontaneous redox reaction that occurs when combining the [Cu(dcdmp) 2 ] − monoanion with the donor BET-TTF, leading to a reduction of the acceptor molecule to a dianionic state (E 1/2 = +206 mV) by the full oxidation of the donor molecule (E 1/2 = +215 mV) [18,21].
(BET-TTF) 2 [Cu(dcdmp) 2 ] (5) crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P-1.The asymmetric unit is composed of one independent BET-TTF molecule at general position and half [Cu(dcdmp) 2 ] complex, with the Cu atom in an inversion center (Figure 5a, Table S12), whereas the donor molecule presents a small boat type distortion with the methylene extremities with an envelope type distortion at opposite directions, and the [Cu(dcdmp) 2 ] anion has a small chair-type distortion (Figure 5a).The BET-TTF donor unit presents disorder in the sulphur atoms of the thiophenic ring over two possible positions, S5 and S8, with occupation factors of 46-54% (in both S5/C10-S5A/C10A and S8/C15-S8A/C15A).The bond lengths analysis indicates that the donor molecule is fully oxidized, while the copper complex is in a dianionic state; therefore, the compound should be formulated as (BET-TTF + ) 2 [Cu(dcdmp) 2 ] 2− (Tables S13 and S14).
at opposite directions, and the [Cu(dcdmp)2] anion has a small chair-type distortion (Figure 5a).The BET-TTF donor unit presents disorder in the sulphur atoms of the thiophenic ring over two possible positions, S5 and S8, with occupation factors of 46-54% (in both S5/C10-S5A/C10A and S8/C15-S8A/C15A).The bond lengths analysis indicates that the donor molecule is fully oxidized, while the copper complex is in a dianionic state; therefore, the compound should be formulated as (BET-TTF + )2[Cu(dcdmp)2] 2− (Tables S13 and S14).S15).Along the columns, the acceptor is connected to both molecules of the dimer by short S•••S and N•••S contacts (Table S15).Between neighbouring columns, several hydrogen bonds and a short S•••S contact (C16-H16A•••N2, C11-H11B•••N3, and S1•••S3) connect acceptor and donor dimers.Between the extremities of the molecules, the stacks are also connected, along c, by a hydrogen bond between acceptor and donor and a short N3•••N3 contact between acceptors.Apart from the strong dimer interaction, there are no contacts between different donor dimers in neighbouring columns.
(ET)2[Ni(dcdmp)2] (6) was also found to have a 2:1 stoichiometry.Compound 6 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P-1.The asymmetric unit cell contains an independent [Ni(dcdmp)2] 2− located at an inversion centre and one ET + molecule at general position (Figure 5b, Table S16).The average bond length M-S value (2.175 Å), found in the acceptor, indicates that the complex is in a dianionic state [36].The nickel dianion presents a slight chair type distortion, and the ET molecule shows the usual geometry found in other related salts of this donor (Figure 5b) [37].In spite of the uniform color and shape of the crystals obtained in one preparation, the presence of other stoichiometries or phases cannot be excluded, since EPR measurements in crystals from the same preparation present two different shapes (Figures S4 and S5).Attempts to prepare other [Ni(dcdmp)2] salts with BET-TTF, α-DT-TTF, or α-mtdt using electrocrystallization techniques did not yield good quality single crystals for X-ray diffraction and electric transport properties measurements.S15).Along the columns, the acceptor is connected to both molecules of the dimer by short S•••S and N•••S contacts (Table S15).Between neighbouring columns, several hydrogen bonds and a short S•••S contact (C16-H16A•••N2, C11-H11B•••N3, and S1•••S3) connect acceptor and donor dimers.Between the extremities of the molecules, the stacks are also connected, along c, by a hydrogen bond between acceptor and donor and a short N3•••N3 contact between acceptors.Apart from the strong dimer interaction, there are no contacts between different donor dimers in neighbouring columns.
(ET) 2 [Ni(dcdmp) 2 ] (6) was also found to have a 2:1 stoichiometry.Compound 6 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P-1.The asymmetric unit cell contains an independent [Ni(dcdmp) 2 ] 2− located at an inversion centre and one ET + molecule at general position (Figure 5b, Table S16).The average bond length M-S value (2.175 Å), found in the acceptor, indicates that the complex is in a dianionic state [36].The nickel dianion presents a slight chair type distortion, and the ET molecule shows the usual geometry found in other related salts of this donor (Figure 5b) [37].In spite of the uniform color and shape of the crystals obtained in one preparation, the presence of other stoichiometries or phases cannot be excluded, since EPR measurements in crystals from the same preparation present two different shapes (Figures S4 and S5).Attempts to prepare other [Ni(dcdmp) 2 ] salts with BET-TTF, α-DT-TTF, or α-mtdt using electrocrystallization techniques did not yield good quality single crystals for X-ray diffraction and electric transport properties measurements.
ET molecule shows the usual geometry found in other related salts of this donor (Figure 5b) [37].In spite of the uniform color and shape of the crystals obtained in one preparation, the presence of other stoichiometries or phases cannot be excluded, since EPR measurements in crystals from the same preparation present two different shapes (Figures S4 and S5).Attempts to prepare other [Ni(dcdmp)2] salts with BET-TTF, α-DT-TTF, or α-mtdt using electrocrystallization techniques did not yield good quality single crystals for X-ray diffraction and electric transport properties measurements.S17).In the ab plane, these chains interact with each other through short Ni•

••S contacts between acceptor-donor molecules and several C-H•••S hydrogen bonds between donors (C12-H12B
Along c, the contact between chains is made by acceptor-donor hydrogen bonds (C16-H16B•••N3).Another way to describe this structure is to see it as composed layers, in the ab plane, as a bidimensional layer of pairs of ET molecules coupled face-by-face that are connected with other pairs by a short, side-by-side, S•••S contacts.In the "channels" of the layers are located the acceptors surrounded by donors in all directions.There are no interactions between acceptors.
With α-mtdt, a dissymmetric TTF-type donor, only the copper salt could be isolated.αmtdt[Cu(dcdmp)2] (7) crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P-1.The asymmetric unit contains one independent (α-mtdt) + molecule at general position and two [Cu(dcdmp)2] − complexes, both with the Cu atom in an inversion centre (Figure 7, Tables S18 and S19).The α-mtdt molecule is essentially planar, with the exception of the -(CH2)2-CN groups that point out both in the same direction almost perpendicularly to the central molecular plane, while both [Cu(dcdmp)2] molecules present a very small chair-type distortion (Figure 7).The bond length analysis confirms that the donor molecule is fully oxidized (α-mtdt) + (Table S20) and the copper dithiolene complex is in monoanionic state (Table S21).
Figure 8a,b illustrates the crystal structure of compound 7, which are composed of segregated stacks of donors and acceptors, along the a axis, with sheets of stacks of α-mtdt donors and With α-mtdt, a dissymmetric TTF-type donor, only the copper salt could be isolated.α-mtdt[Cu(dcdmp) 2 ] (7) crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P-1.The asymmetric unit contains one independent (α-mtdt) + molecule at general position and two [Cu(dcdmp) 2 ] − complexes, both with the Cu atom in an inversion centre (Figure 7, Tables S18 and S19).The α-mtdt molecule is essentially planar, with the exception of the -(CH 2 ) 2 -CN groups that point out both in the same direction almost perpendicularly to the central molecular plane, while both [Cu(dcdmp) 2 ] molecules present a very small chair-type distortion (Figure 7).The bond length analysis confirms that the donor molecule is fully oxidized (α-mtdt) + (Table S20) and the copper dithiolene complex is in monoanionic state (Table S21).S22, Figure S7).S22, Figure S7).

Electric Transport Properties
The electrical conductivity of compounds 1-7 was measured in single crystals along their long axis, and the results are presented in Figure 9 and Table 1.All compounds present a semiconducting behaviour with room temperature values in the range ≈10 −5 S/cm < σ RT < ≈10 −1 S/cm.The highest conductivity was found for the 1:1 copper compound 3 and gold salt 1 of α-DT-TTF donor, followed closely by (BET-TTF)[Au(dcdmp) 2 ] (2).The modest conductivity values and the thermally activated behaviour observed were not unexpected in view of the fully oxidised nature of the donor molecules, which are expected to lead to Mott insulator states.In this sense, the relatively large conductivity values observed in α-DT-TTF salts 1 and 3 are very large for 1:1 salts with fully oxidised molecules.In (α-DT-TTF)[Au(dcdmp) 2 ] (1), resistivity measurements made in needle (0.16 S/cm) and plate shaped sample (0.052 S/cm), which were obtained in the same preparation, gave slightly different values, which could indicate the possibility of different phases.The coexistence of different stoichiometries and polymorphs is not unprecedented in salts with the [M(dcdmp) 2 ] anions [15].However, this possibility could not be confirmed from the different crystals selected for single crystal X-ray diffraction.
It should be noted that in compounds 1, 2, and 3 with higher conductivity, both the donor and acceptor molecules make an extended network of interactions, and both could provide conduction bands.In compound 7, the bulkier cyanoethyl groups of the asymmetric donor molecule α-mtdt act as a hindrance to the donor molecules overlapping each other; nevertheless, a crystal structure pattern based on segregated stacks of donor and acceptors was obtained with a room temperature conductivity of 1.1 × 10 −3 S/cm.
Although ET[Cu(dcdmp) 2 ] (4) is isostructural with 3, it presents one of the lowest conductivities found in this group of compounds (4.2 × 10 −4 S/cm).Even though compound 4 seems to have a good overlap with the donor molecules along the b axis (Figure 4c and Figure S3), a detailed crystal structure Crystals 2018, 8, 141 13 of 16 analysis shows that the distances between the molecular average planes might prevent effective π-π interactions, with donor interplanar distances larger in compound 4 than in 3 (3.699Å and 3.357 Å for compound 4 and 3.571 Å and 3.033 Å in compound 3).
The room temperature conductivities of compounds 5 and 6, both in a 2:1 stoichiometry, are of the same order of magnitude as that found in 4. The dimeric nature of the donors found in these crystal structures probably induces electron localization and, even with a network of interactions between donors, effective electronic pathways are not established.
bands.In compound 7, the bulkier cyanoethyl groups of the asymmetric donor molecule α-mtdt act as a hindrance to the donor molecules overlapping each other; nevertheless, a crystal structure pattern based on segregated stacks of donor and acceptors was obtained with a room temperature conductivity of 1.1 × 10 −3 S/cm.
Although ET[Cu(dcdmp)2] (4) is isostructural with 3, it presents one of the lowest conductivities found in this group of compounds (4.2 × 10 −4 S/cm).Even though compound 4 seems to have a good overlap with the donor molecules along the b axis (Figures 4c and S3), a detailed crystal structure analysis shows that the distances between the molecular average planes might prevent effective π-π interactions, with donor interplanar distances larger in compound 4 than in 3 (3.699Å and 3.357 Å for compound 4 and 3.571 Å and 3.033 Å in compound 3).
The room temperature conductivities of compounds 5 and 6, both in a 2:1 stoichiometry, are of the same order of magnitude as that found in 4. The dimeric nature of the donors found in these crystal structures probably induces electron localization and, even with a network of interactions between donors, effective electronic pathways are not established.
The pyrazine nitrogen atoms in the dcdmp ligand were found, amongst the different crystal structures, to be extensively involved in both S•••N short contacts and N•••H-C hydrogen bonds.As a consequence, when comparing the salts of the complexes based on dcdmp ligands with the mnt ligand, the structures are quite different.The diversity of crystal structures and polymorphs in this family of compounds makes them good models for further understanding the correlation between the intermolecular crystal structure patterns and the observed macroscopic electrical transport properties.
Supplementary Materials: CCDC 1826109-1826115 and 1826306 contains the supplementary crystallographic data for this paper.These data can be obtained free of charge via http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/conts/retrieving. html.The following are available online at www.mdpi.com/xxx/s1,Table S1: Bond lengths of compound 1, Table S2: short contacts of compound 1.Table S3: bond lengths of compound 2M, Figure S1: crystal structure of compound 2M, Table S4: short contacts of compound 2M, Table S5: bond lengths of compound 2T, Table S6: short contacts of compound 2T, Table S7: bond lengths of compound 3, Table S8: acceptor molecule bond length analysis of compound 3 and 4, Table S9: short contacts of compound 3, Figure S2: ORTEP of compound 4, Figure S3: crystal structure of compound 4, Table S10: bond lengths of compound 4, Table S11: short contacts of compound 4, Table S12: bond lengths of compound 5, Tables S13 and S14: bond length analysis of compound 5, Table S15: short contacts of compound 5, Table S16: bond lengths of compound 6, Table S17: short contacts of compound 6, Figures S4 and S5: EPR measurements of compound 6, Tables S18 and S19: bond lengths of compound 7, Tables S20 and S21: bond length analysis of compound 7, Table S22: short contacts of compound 7, Figures S6 and S7: relevant short contacts of compound 7.

Scheme 1 .
Scheme 1.Molecular diagram of transition metal bisdithiolene complexes (a) and of TTF type donors (b).

Scheme 1 .
Scheme 1.Molecular diagram of transition metal bisdithiolene complexes (a) and of TTF type donors (b).

Crystals 2018, 8 ,
x FOR PEER REVIEW 6 of 15 molecules of 3.47 Å suggest significant π-π interactions.By contrast, the molecules in neighbouring stacks are connected through a 2D network of short contacts.Along b, the molecules short axis, the stacks are in registry, and several S•••S interactions between D + /D + , A − /A − and D + /A − are observed (Figure 2a2, Table

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Crystal structure of compound 1 (a) and compound 2T (b): (a1,b1) view along the stacking axis; (a2,b2) partial view along the long axis of molecules of neighbouring stacks in the same layer; (a3,b3) overlap mode of the mixed stacks.Thin lines represent relevant short contacts.

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Crystal structure of compound 1 (a) and compound 2T (b): (a 1 ,b 1 ) view along the stacking axis; (a 2 ,b 2 ) partial view along the long axis of molecules of neighbouring stacks in the same layer; (a 3 ,b 3 ) overlap mode of the mixed stacks.Thin lines represent relevant short contacts.

Crystals 2018, 8 ,
x FOR PEER REVIEW 7 of 15 BET-TTF molecule shows disorder in the thiophenic sulphur atoms S3 with two positions with occupation factors of 79-21% (S3/C10-S3A/C10A).The crystal structure of 2T is also composed of mixed stacks of alternating donor-acceptor molecules (D + A − D + A − D + A − ), along the b axis (Figure2b), in the same fashion found in 1 and 2M.The main difference in 2T is the relative arrangement between layers, which in this case is "in line" and not related by a dihedral angle of ≈60° and the displaced overlapping mode between molecules along the stacks (Figure2a3,b3).Polymorph 2T has a short hydrogen bond (N3•••H10C-C10A) along the stacks, which is inexistent in the 2M structure, probably due to the slightly shorter interplanar distances (Figure
network of short S•••S contacts between A − -D + and D + -D + molecules.Apart from the S•••S network of short contacts, several hydrogen bonds of the C-H•••N and C-H•••S type give stability to this 2D structure and also connect acceptor to donor along the a axis, parallel to the longest molecular axis of both donor and acceptor molecules (Table

Figure 4 .
Figure 4. Crystal structure of (α-DT-TTF)[Cu(dcdmp)2] (3): (a) view along the stacking axis; (b) partial view along the long axis of the molecules of neighbouring chains in the same layer; and (c) overlap mode between chains in the same layer.

Figure 4 .
Figure 4. Crystal structure of (α-DT-TTF)[Cu(dcdmp) 2 ] (3): (a) view along the stacking axis; (b) partial view along the long axis of the molecules of neighbouring chains in the same layer; and (c) overlap mode between chains in the same layer.

Figure 6 .
Figure 6.Crystal structure of compound 5 (a) and compound 6 (b): (a1) view along a-b; (a2) partial view along the long axis of the molecules of neighbouring columns in the same layer, with the alternating dianions and BET-TTF dimers; (b1) view along the stacking axis; (b2) partial view of the layers in the ab plane.

Figure 6 .
Figure 6.Crystal structure of compound 5 (a) and compound 6 (b): (a 1 ) view along a-b; (a 2 ) partial view along the long axis of the molecules of neighbouring columns in the same layer, with the alternating dianions and BET-TTF dimers; (b 1 ) view along the stacking axis; (b 2 ) partial view of the layers in the ab plane.
Figure 8a,b illustrates the crystal structure of compound 7, which are composed of segregated stacks of donors and acceptors, along the a axis, with sheets of stacks of α-mtdt donors and [Cu(dcdmp) 2 ] acceptors alternating along b.Within the stacks, the donor molecules are arranged in a head-to-head fashion with distance of 3.469 Å between molecular planes, suggesting significant π-π interactions.The overlap mode of α-mtdt donors (Figure 8c) shows a large displacement of the molecules along their long axis, probably due to the bulky cyanoethyl group.Within the stacks, the donor molecules are connected by two short S•••S contacts (S5•••S11 and S6•••S10).The two acceptor molecules A and B (respectively, red and blue molecules in Figure 8a,b), although crystallographically distinct, are identical within experimental uncertainty and present identical overlap modes (Figure 8d).Along each monoanion stack, A or B, there are no short contacts, and the distance between molecular planes is of 3.516 Å and 3.501 Å, respectively.Short contacts between acceptor molecules A and B are also inexistent.The different acceptor stacks have different angles in relation to the α-mtdt donor stacks, with a dihedral angle of 37.47 • and 74.14 • for stacks of molecules A and B, respectively.The interactions between stacks are made in two distinct ways along the α-mtdt molecule long axis (Table S22): (a) on one side, the donor molecules interact with each other through C-H•••N hydrogen bonds (C22-H22B•••N10 and C23-H23B•••N9, Figure S6) and also with the acceptor stacks of molecule A (red molecule in Figure 8a,b) through C-H•••S hydrogen bonds (C25-H25A•••N4, Figure S7); (b) on the other side, the interaction is between the methyl groups and the thiophenic sulphur atom of the α-mtdt donor through a hydrogen bond (Figure S6, C18-H18A*•••S7).The lateral connection between acceptor-donor molecules along the molecules minor axis is mediated by short S•••S and S•••N contacts and hydrogen bonds interactions (Table Crystals 2018, 8, x FOR PEER REVIEW 11 of 15 A and B, respectively.The interactions between stacks are made in two distinct ways along the α-mtdt molecule long axis (Table S22): (a) on one side, the donor molecules interact with each other through C-H•••N hydrogen bonds (C22-H22B•••N10 and C23-H23B•••N9, Figure S6) and also with the acceptor stacks of molecule A (red molecule in Figure 8a,b) through C-H•••S hydrogen bonds (C25-H25A•••N4, Figure S7); (b) on the other side, the interaction is between the methyl groups and the thiophenic sulphur atom of the α-mtdt donor through a hydrogen bond (Figure S6, C18-H18A*•••S7).The lateral connection between acceptor-donor molecules along the molecules minor axis is mediated by short S•••S and S•••N contacts and hydrogen bonds interactions (Table

Figure 9 .
Figure 9. Electrical resistivity ρ of compounds 1-7 as a function of temperature T.Figure 9. Electrical resistivity ρ of compounds 1-7 as a function of temperature T.