Pi-dimer formation in an oligothiophene tweezer molecule.

An oligothiophene tweezer molecule, which has two quaterthiophene moieties connected to create an electrochemically activated hinge, has been synthesized. Two-electron oxidation of the tweezer molecule produces an intramolecular pi-dimer between the two oligothiophene moieties at room temperature as confirmed by UV-vis absorption, electrochemistry, and EPR experiments.