Self-assembly of three-dimensional supramolecular polymers through cooperative tetrathiafulvalene radical cation dimerization.

The self-assembly of a new type of three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular polymers from tetrahedral monomers in both organic and aqueous media is described. We have designed and synthesized two tetraphenylmethane derivatives T1 and T2, both of which bear four tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) units. When the TTF units were oxidized to the radical cation TTF(.