Benzoquinone‐Fused Dithiafulvene Derivatives Bearing a Benzene Spacer as Organic Electrode Materials

Organic electrode materials with high capacity and good cycling stability are promising candidates for next‐generation lithium‐ion batteries. In this study, benzoquinone‐fused dithiafulvene derivatives bearing a benzene spacer were designed and synthesized to increase the achievable capacity by introducing benzoquinone moieties into the dithiafulvene framework. Their electrochemical properties and charge–discharge performances were investigated. The parasubstituted derivative exhibited superior cycling performance, retaining a distinct high‐voltage charge plateau during repeated charge–discharge cycling, whereas the corresponding metasubstituted derivatives showed pronounced capacity fading over the entire voltage range. The molecular design presented in this study was based on our strategy of suppressing the dissolution of organic active materials through electrochemically induced intermolecular coupling during battery operation. Although direct evidence for such coupling was not obtained in the present system, the electrochemical and battery performance of the synthesized molecules provide useful insights into the feasibility of this molecular design concept and the future development of high‐performance organic electrode materials.