Electrode materials and processes for their preparation

An electrode material comprising particles of an electrochemically active material and a compound of any one of Formulae I to IV:

• wherein,
• R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 are each independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a group selected from halogen (e.g. F), optionally halogenated alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl, —CN, —NO2, —SO2OM2, —OP(O)(OM2)2, —P(O)(OM2)2, or —C(O)OM2, wherein M2 is a cation of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, or a —OC(O)alkyl, —SO2NH2, —SO2NHalkyl, or —SO2N(alkyl)2, group;
• and
• X is, independently in each occurrence, selected from O, S, NH, NR9, and PH, wherein R9 is selected from natural or synthetic carbohydrate and protective groups, for instance an amine protective group such as trifluoroacetamide, t-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc), benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz), 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc), benzyl (Bn), and the like;
• Sugar is a natural or synthetic carbohydrate (e.g. mono or disaccharide, oligo and polysaccharides, e,g, β-D-glucose or cellulose);
• and
• wherein:
• i. a, c and e are single bonds, b and d are double bonds, and M1 is H or a cation of an alkali or alkaline earth metal thereby forming a salt with the oxygen atom it is linked to negatively charged (e.g. M1 is Li+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, or Mg2+) wherein the ratio of cation to the rest of the compound of Formula I provides electroneutrality (e.g. M1 may be Li+ or (Mg2+)1/2);
• or
• ii. a, c and e are double bonds, b and d are single bonds, and M1 is absent;
• or an oxime thereof (i.e. where ═OM1 is replaced with ═NOH in Formulae I, II or III), a compound of Formula IV where the Sugar is replaced by a hydrogen atom, a geometric isomer (e.g. cis or trans) thereof, or a carbohydrate (mono or disaccharide, oligo and polysaccharides, e,g, β-D-glucose or cellulose) complex or conjugate thereof.