Intermolecular Resonance Correlates Electron Pairs Down a Supermolecular Chain: Antiferromagnetism in K‑Doped p‑Terphenyl

Recent interest in potassium-doped p-terphenyl has been fueled by reports of superconductivity at T c values surprisingly high for organic compounds. Despite these interesting properties, studies of the structure–function relationships within these materials have been scarce. Here, we isolate a phase-pure crystal of potassium-doped p-terphenyl: [K­(222)]2[p-terphenyl3]. Emerging antiferromagnetism in the anisotropic structure is studied in depth by magnetometry and electron spin resonance. Combining these experimental results with density functional theory calculations, we describe the antiferromagnetic coupling in this system that occurs in all 3 crystallographic directions. The strongest coupling was found along the ends of the terphenyls, where the additional electron on neighboring p-terphenyls antiferromagnetically couple. This delocalized bonding interaction is reminiscent of the doubly degenerate resonance structure depiction of polyacetylene. These findings hint toward magnetic fluctuation-induced superconductivity in potassium-doped p-terphenyl, which has a close analogy with high T c cuprate superconductors. The new approach described here is very versatile as shown by the preparation of two additional salts through systematic changing of the building blocks.