Precursor compounds for organic metals and nonlinear optical devices from carbohydratederived hydroxymethylfurfuraldehyde:[1, 2] Furanoid electron donors and push/pull substituted compounds

Non‐food applications of industrially accessible low‐molecular‐weight carbohydrates are examined. Available from, for example, sucrose, starch, or cellulose, the carbohydrates are shown to form the basis of conducting charge‐transfer salts or materials with nonlinear optical properties. The compound shown in the figure, for example, which is based on a furan unit obtainable from glucose, is shown to form a stable charge‐transfer salt with TCNQ exhibiting a powder conductivity of 10 −2 S/cm at room temperature. magnified image