Electron-rich and electron-poor pentalene derivatives

Chemical transformations of push-pull fluorenones: push-pull dibenzodicyanofulvenes as well as fluorenone- and dibenzodicyanofulvene-tetracyanobutadiene conjugates

Push-pull fluorenones (FOs) were synthesized by treating a benzopentalenequinone (BPO) derivative with alkynes that bear an electron-rich aniline moiety via a regioselective [4 + 2] cycloaddition (CA) followed by a [4 + 1] retrocycloaddition (RCA). The resulting FOs were readily converted into dibenzodicyanofulvenes (DBDCFs) by treatment with malononitrile in the presence of TiCl4 and pyridine. The FOs and DBDCFs exhibit intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) that manifests in absorptions at 350-650 nm and amphoteric electrochemical behavior. Furthermore, FOs and DBDCFs that contain a C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C bond react with tetracyanoethylene in a formal [2 + 2] CA followed by a retro-electrocyclization to afford sterically congested tetracyanobutadiene (TCBD) conjugates. The substituent (H or Me) on the aromatic ring adjacent to the butadiene moiety thereby determines whether the butadiene adopts an s-cis or s-trans conformation, and thus controls the physicochemical properties of the resulting TCBDs. The TCBD conjugates exhibit ICT absorptions (≤800 nm) together with up to four reversible reduction steps.

Toward Redox-Active Indenofluorene-Extended Tetrathiafulvalene Oligomers-Synthesis and Studies of Dimeric Scaffolds

The promotion of mixed-valence interactions between redox-active, π-conjugated scaffolds is of interest when developing new conducting or electrochromic materials as well as in the construction of redox-controlled supramolecular assemblies. In this work, dimeric structures of the redox-active indenofluorene-extended tetrathiafulvalene (IF-TTF) unit were synthesized in a stepwise protocol. The synthesis relied on the development of a new unsymmetrical IF-TTF building block by a combination of phosphite-mediated and Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reactions for introduction of the dithiafulvene units. The redox properties were studied by cyclic voltammetry, where it was observed that a first one-electron oxidation, corresponding to a mixed-valence state, occurs at a significantly lower potential when the IF-TTF unit is incorporated into a dimer, compared to a monomer analogue. This result indicates that locking the redox-active IF-TTF units in close proximity promotes intramolecular mixed-valence interactions. A computational study was also conducted, supporting the involvement of intramolecular interactions.

5,10-Dihydroindeno[2,1-a]indene

The title compound, C16H12, crystallizes with four half molecules in the asymmetric unit, each of which is located on a crystallographic centre of inversion. The molecules are essentially planar. The crystal studied was a non-merohedral twin.

Indenofluorenes and derivatives: syntheses and emerging materials applications

The growing demand for flexible electronic devices and hydrogen storage materials has spurred a resurgence of interest in polyaryl hydrocarbons including graphene, acenes, fullerenes, polythiophenes, etc. Indenofluorenes are another polyaryl molecular scaffold that has shown utility in the organic and hybrid materials arena, with polymers incorporating the indeno[1,2-b]fluorene moiety being common in organic light emitting diodes. This review examines the syntheses and properties of the five distinct indenofluorene regioisomers, with a focus on small molecule applications in organic electronics of this intriguing and somewhat underexplored family of polyaryl hydrocarbons.

Design, synthesis, and characterization of ladder-type molecules and polymers. Air-stable, solution-processable n-channel and ambipolar semiconductors for thin-film transistors via experiment and theory

The design, synthesis, and characterization of new high-performance n-channel molecular/polymeric semiconductors that are solution-processable and air-stable is of great interest for the development of p-n junctions, bipolar transistors, and organic complementary circuitry (CMOS). While over the past two decades there have been many reports on n-channel materials, solution-processability and air-stability still remain as major challenges. We report here the synthesis and detailed characterization of a highly electron-deficient class of indeno[1,2-b]fluorene-6,12-dione, 2,2'-(indeno[1,2-b]fluorene-6,12-diylidene) dimalononitrile, bisindenofluorene-12,15-dione, and 2,2'-(bisindenofluorene-12,15-diylidene) dimalononitrile-based ladder-type building blocks (1-12) and their corresponding homo- and copolymers (P1-P14), and examine in detail the effects of core size, thiophene vs core regiochemistry, carbonyl vs dicyanovinylene functionality, and alkyl chain orientation on the physicochemical properties, thin film microstructures, and OFET device performance. New compounds are characterized by DSC, TGA, melting point, single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), solution/thin film optical, PL, and cyclic voltammetry measurements to evaluate frontier molecular orbital energetics and intermolecular cohesive forces. Thin films are grown by vacuum deposition and spin-coating, and investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and AFM. By tuning the HOMO/LUMO energetics of the present materials over a 1.1 eV range, p-type, n-type, or ambipolar charge transport characteristics can be observed, thus identifying the MO energetic windows governing majority carrier polarity and air stability. One of these systems, thiophene-terminated indenofluorenedicyanovinylene 10 exhibits an electron mobility of 0.16 cm(2)/V x s and an I(on)/I(off) ratio of 10(7)-10(8), one of the highest to date for a solution-cast air-stable n-channel semiconductor. Here we also report solution-processed ambipolar films of thiophene-based molecule 12 and copolymers P13 and P14 which exhibit electron and hole mobilities of 1 x 10(-3)-2 x 10(-4) and I(on)/I(off) ratios of approximately 10(4), representing the first examples of molecular and polymeric ambipolar semiconductors to function in air. Analysis of the operational air-stabilities of a series of thin films having different crystallinities, orientations, and morphologies suggests that operational air-stability for thermodynamically predicted (i.e., no kinetic barrier contribution) air-stable semiconductors is principally governed by LUMO energetics with minimal contribution from thin-film microstructure. The onset LUMO energy for carrier electron stabilization is estimated as -4.0 to -4.1 eV, indicating an overpotential of 0.9-1.0 eV. Density functional theory calculations provide detailed insight into molecule/polymer physicochemical and charge transport characteristics.

An extremely simple dibenzopentalene synthesis from 2-bromo-1-ethynylbenzenes using nickel(0) complexes: construction of its derivatives with various functionalities

Nice and easy: A very simple synthesis for dibenzopentalenes, which starts from 1-bromo-2-ethynylbenzenes, has been developed. It uses Ni(0) complexes (see scheme), from which a relatively stable Ni(II) complex as an important intermediate has been isolated. Dibenzopentalenes with various functional groups can be prepared by the procedure, and their electronic properties are consistent with theoretical calculations.An extremely simple dibenzopentalene synthesis from readily available 2-bromo-1-ethynylbenzenes using a nickel(0) complex is described. Although the yields are moderate, the formation of three C-C bonds in a single process and the high availability of the starting materials are important advantages of this reaction. The corresponding aryl-nickel(II) complex as an important intermediate was isolated as relatively stable crystals, and the structure was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The high stability of this complex should play a key role in this reaction. The reaction is applicable to the preparation of dibenzopentalenes bearing various functional groups. Their electronic properties are consistent with theoretical calculations. The cyclic voltammograms of these compounds reveal highly amphoteric redox properties. In particular, the electron-donating property of a tetramethoxy derivative is greater than that of oligothiophenes and dibenzodithiophenes and almost comparable to that of pentacene.