Synthesis, Structure and Physical Properties of the First 1-Dimensional Phenalenyl-Based Neutral Radical Molecular Conductor

We report the preparation, crystallization, and solid-state characterization of a benzyl substituted spiro-biphenylalenyl radical. The crustal structure shows that the radical is monomeric in the solid state, with the molecules packed in an unusual one-dimensional(1-D) fashion that we refer to as a pi-step stack. This particulad mode of 1D stacking is forced on the lattice arrangement, by the presence of the orthogonal phenylanyl units that were specifically incorporated to prevent the crystallization of low dimensional structures.