Tetramethyltetraselenafulvalene is an organic compound of selenium, carbon, and hydrogen with the chemical formula . The compound belongs to the group of organoselene compounds and heterofulvalenes.
TMTSF features a central fulvalene core where each of the two five-membered rings contains two selenium atoms in 1,3-positionsâÂÂanalogous to the sulfur atoms in tetramethyltetrathiafulvalene (TMTTF).
This structure enables TMTSF's electron donor properties in charge-transfer salts.
TMTSF can be obtained by substituting the hydrogen atoms of tetraselenafulvalene with methyl groups. Other methods avoiding the use of gaseous hydrogen selenide are also known.
Tetramethytetraselenafulvalene is a toxic, solid compound generally used in molecular electronics. The compound forms purple powder.
The compound is used as an electron donor to form charge-transfer salts, most notably conducting Bechgaard salts. It is known for creating the first organic superconductors (e.g., (TMTSF)<sub>2</sub>PF<sub>6</sub>) and functions as a semiconductor.