Pyrrole-Containing Semiconducting Materials: Synthesis and Applications in Organic Photovoltaics and Organic Field-Effect Transistors

Aerosol CVD Carbon Nanotube Thin Films: From Synthesis to Advanced Applications: A Comprehensive Review

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) produced by the floating-catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FCCVD) method are among the most promising nanomaterials of today, attracting interest from both academic and industrial sectors. These CNTs exhibit exceptional electrical conductivity, optical properties, and mechanical resilience due to their binder-free and low-defect structure, while the FCCVD method enables their continuous and scalable synthesis. Among the methodological FCCVD variations, aerosol CVD' is distinguished by its production of freestanding thin films comprising macroscale CNT networks, which exhibit superior performance and practical applicability. This review elucidates the complex interrelations between aerosol CVD reactor synthesis conditions and the resulting properties of the CNTs. A unified approach connecting all stages of the synthesis process is proposed as a comprehensive guide. This review examines the correlations between CNT structural parameters (length and diameter) and resultant film properties (conductivity, optical, and mechanical characteristics) to establish a comprehensive framework for optimizing CNT thin film synthesis. The analysis encompasses characterization methodologies specific to aerosol CVD-synthesized CNTs and evaluates how their properties influence applications across diverse domains, from energy devices to optoelectronics. The review concludes by addressing current challenges and prospects in this field.

Molecular engineering of thiophene- and pyrrole-fused core arylamine systems: Tuning redox properties, NIR spectral responsiveness and bacterial imaging applications

The thiophene- and pyrrole-fused heterocyclic compounds have garnered significant interest for their distinctive electron-rich characteristics and notable optoelectronic properties. However, the construction of high-performance systems within this class is of great challenge. Herein, we develop a series of novel dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d] pyrrole (DTP) and tetrathieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d] pyrrole (TTP) bridged arylamine compounds (DTP-C4, DTP-C12, DTP-C4-Fc, TTP-C4-OMe, TTP-C4, and TTP-C12) with varying carbon chain lengths. The pertinent experimental results reveal that this series of compounds undergo completely reversible multistep redox processes. Notably, TTP-bridged compounds TTP-C4 and TTP-C12 exhibit impressive multistep near-infrared (NIR) absorption alterations with notable color changes and electroluminescent behaviors, which are mainly attributed to the charge transfer transitions from terminal arylamine units to central bridges, as supported by theoretical calculations. Additionally, compound DTP-C4 demonstrates the ability to visually identify gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, this work suggests the promising electroresponsive nature of compounds TTP-C4 and TTP-C12, positioning them as excellent materials for various applications. It also provides a facile approach to constructing high-performance multifunctional luminescent materials, particularly those with strong and long-wavelength NIR absorption capabilities.

Impact of Different π-Bridges on the Photovoltaic Performance of A-D-D'-D-A Small Molecule-Based Donors

Three small donor molecule materials (S1, S2, S3) based on dithiophene [2,3-d:2',3'-d']dithiophene [1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene (DTBDT) utilized in this study were synthesized using the Vilsmeier-Haack reaction, traditional Stille coupling, and Knoevenagel condensation. Then, a variety of characterization methods were applied to study the differences in optical properties and photovoltaic devices among the three. By synthesizing S2 using a thiophene π-bridge based on S1, the blue shift in ultraviolet absorption can be enhanced, the band gap and energy level can be reduced, the open circuit voltage (VOC) can be increased to 0.75 V using the S2:Y6 device, and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3% can be achieved. Also, after developing the device using Y6, S3 introduced the alkyl chain of thiophene π-bridge to S2, which improved the solubility of tiny donor molecules, achieved the maximum short-circuit current (JSC = 10.59 mA/cm2), filling factor (FF = 49.72%), and PCE (4.25%). Thus, a viable option for future design and synthesis of small donor molecule materials is to incorporate thiophene π-bridges into these materials, along with alkyl chains, in order to enhance the device's morphology and charge transfer behavior.

Research and Progress on Organic Semiconductor Power Devices

Organic semiconductor power devices have been attracting increasing attention due to their advantages such as flexibility, low fabrication cost, and sustainability. They have found wide applications in fields such as flexible electronic devices and biomedical devices. However, in the field of power applications, the lack of reliable organic semiconductor power devices is mainly attributed to the limited thermal stability and electrical stability of organic materials. This article provides a detailed review of the development status of organic semiconductor power devices from three aspects: device structure, organic materials, and fabrication methods. It clarifies that the future development goal is to enhance the voltage resistance and thermal stability of organic transistors through higher-performance structure design, higher-mobility materials, and higher-quality fabrication methods. The continuous innovation and development of the structures, materials, and fabrication of these devices will generate more novel devices, offering more possibilities for the application of organic semiconductor power devices. This information is of great reference value and guidance significance for engineers in related fields.

Expanding Color Control of Anodically Coloring Electrochromes Based on Electron-Rich 1,4-Dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrroles

Anodically coloring electrochromes have received attention in recent years as high-contrast alternatives to cathodically coloring electrochromes due to their superior optical contrast during electrochemical switching. While current systems represent significant progress for organic electrochromics, it is necessary to expand the structural diversity of these materials while simultaneously reducing the hazards associated with synthetic protocols. With these considerations in mind, a family of 1,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole (DHPP) chromophores with varying functionalities along the 2,5-axis was envisioned to accomplish these goals. After predicting different absorbance traits as oxidized molecules with time-dependent density functional theory, DHPP chromophores with varying peripheral functionalities were synthesized in a single aerobic synthetic step via an iron-catalyzed multicomponent reaction and characterized as high-contrast chromophores. In solution, the DHPP chromophores absorb in the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum, resulting in color-neutral L*a*b* color coordinates of ∼100, 0, 0. Upon chemical oxidation, each molecule transitions to absorb at various points across the visible spectrum based on the extent of electron-donating ability and can display five distinct colors. Importantly, the chromophores are redox-active and display switching capabilities with an applied electrochemical potential. In conjunction with building fundamental insights into molecular design of DHPP chromophores, the results and synthetic simplicity of DHPPs make them compelling materials for color-controlled high-contrast electrochromes.

Catalysts-Controlled Roles Exchange between 2,3-Diaryl-2H-azirines and Acetone: Chemodivergent Synthesis of Pyrroles and 3-Oxazolines

We report two practical and step-economical methodologies for the chemodivergent synthesis of tri-substituted pyrroles and 3-oxazolines from the domino reactions of 2H-azirines and acetone. For instance, acetone served as a nucleophile to react with 2H-azirines under the basic conditions to furnish pyrroles. Upon changing the catalyst to TfOH, acetone served as an electrophile to synthesize 3-oxazolines. Moreover, the products could be synthesized on a gram scale, and the possible catalytic cycles were proposed.

Access to 2,4-Disubstituted Pyrrole-Based Polymer with Long-Wavelength and Stimuli-Responsive Properties via Copper-Catalyzed [3+2] Polycycloaddition

Pyrrole-based polymers (PBPs), a type of fascinating functional polymers, play a crucial role in materials science. However, efficient synthetic strategies of PBPs with diverse structures are mainly focused on conjugated polypyrroles and still remain challenging. Herein, an atom and step economy protocol is described to access various 2,4-disubstituted PBPs by in situ formation of pyrrole core structure via copper-catalyzed [3+2] polycycloaddition of dialkynones and diisocyanoacetates. A series of PBPs is prepared with high molecular weight (Mw up to 18 200 Da) and moderate to good yield (up to 87%), which possesses a fluorescent emission located in the green to yellow light region. Blending the PBPs with polyvinyl alcohol, the stretchable composite films exhibit a significant strengthening of the mechanical properties (tensile stress up to 59 MPa, elongation at break >400%) and an unprecedented stress-responsive luminescence enhancement that over fourfold fluorescent emission intensity is maintained upon stretching up to 100%. On the basis of computational studies, the unique photophysical and mechanical properties are attributed to the substitution of carbonyl chromophores on the pyrrole unit.

Pyrrole-Based Fully Non-fused Acceptor for Efficient and Stable Organic Solar Cells

Organic solar cells (OSCs) are still suffering from the low light utilization and unstable under ultraviolet irradiation. To tackle these challenges, we design and synthesize a non-fused acceptor based on 1-(2-butyloctyl)-1H-pyrrole as π-bridge unit, denoted as GS70, which serves as active layer in the front-cell for constructing tandem OSCs with a parallel configuration. Benefiting from the well-complementary absorption spectra with the rear-cell, GS70-based parallel tandem OSCs exhibit an improved photoelectron response over the range between 600-700 nm, yielding a high short-circuit current density of 28.4 mA cm-2. The improvement in light utilization translates to a power conversion efficiency of 19.4 %, the highest value among all parallel tandem OSCs. Notably, owing to the intrinsic stability of GS70, the manufactured parallel tandem OSCs retain 84.9 % of their initial PCE after continuous illumination for 1000 hours. Overall, this work offers novel insight into the molecular design of low-cost and stability non-fused acceptors, emphasizing the importance of adopting a parallel tandem configuration for achieving efficient light harvesting and improved photostability in OSCs.

Toward Biomass-Based Organic Electronics: Continuous Flow Synthesis and Electropolymerization of N-Substituted Pyrroles

Pyrroles are foundational building blocks in a wide array of disciplines, including chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and materials science. Currently sourced from nonrenewable fossil sources, there is a strive to explore alternative and sustainable synthetic pathways to pyrroles utilizing renewable feedstocks. The utilization of biomass resources presents a compelling solution, particularly given that several key bulk and fine chemicals already originate from biomass. For instance, 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran and aniline are promising candidates for biomass-based chemical production. In this study, we present an innovative approach for synthesizing N-substituted pyrroles by modifying the Clauson-Kaas protocol, starting from 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran as the precursor. The developed methodology offers the advantage of producing pyrroles under mild reaction conditions with the potential for catalyst-free reactions depending upon the structural features of the substrate. We devised protocols suitable for both continuous flow and batch reactions, enabling the conversion of a wide range of anilines and sulfonamides into their respective N-substituted pyrroles with good to excellent yields. Moreover, we demonstrate the feasibility of depositing thin films of the corresponding polymers onto electrodes through in situ electropolymerization. This innovative application showcases the potential for sustainable, biomass-based organic electronics, thus, paving the way for environmentally friendly advancements in this field.

Functionalized 2,3'-Bipyrroles and Pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazoles from Acylethynylpyrroles and Tosylmethylisocyanide

An efficient method for the synthesis of pharmaceutically prospective but still rare functionalized 2,3'-bipyrroles (in up to 80% yield) by the cycloaddition of easily available acylethynylpyrroles with tosylmethylisocyanide (TosMIC) has been developed. The reaction proceeds under reflux (1 h) in the KOH/THF system. In the t-BuONa/THF system, TosMIC acts in two directions: along with 2,3'-bipyrroles, the unexpected formation of pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazoles is also observed (products ratio~1:1).

Utilization of the through-space effect to design donor-acceptor systems of pyrrole, indole, isoindole, azulene and aniline

Molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) topology analysis reveals the underlying phenomenon of the through-space effect (TSE), which imparts electron donor-acceptor properties to a wide range of chemical systems, including derivatives of pyrrole, indole, isoindole, azulene, and aniline. The TSE is inherent in pyrrole owing to the strong polarization of electron density (PoED) from the formally positively charged N-center to the C3C4 bonding region. The N → C3C4 directional nature of the TSE has been effectively employed to design molecules with high electronic polarization, such as bipyrroles, polypyrroles, phenyl pyrroles, multi-pyrrolyl systems and N-doped nanographenes. In core-expanded structures, the direction of electron flow from pyrrole units towards the core leads to highly electron-rich systems, while the opposite arrangement results in highly electron-deficient systems. Similarly, the MESP analysis reveals the presence of the TSE in azulene, indole, isoindole, and aniline. Oligomeric chains of these systems are designed in such a way that the direction of electron flow is consistent across each monomer, leading to substantial electronic polarization between the first and last monomer units. Notably, these designed systems exhibit strong donor-acceptor characteristics despite the absence of explicit donor and acceptor moieties, which is supported by FMO analysis, APT charge analysis, NMR data and λmax data. Among the systems studied, the TSEs of many experimentally known systems (bipyrroles, phenyl pyrroles, hexapyrrolylbenzene, octapyrrolylnaphthalene, decapyrrolylcorannulene, polyindoles, polyazulenes, etc.) are unraveled for the first time, while numerous new systems (polypyrroles, polyisoindoles, and amino-substituted benzene polymers) are predicted to be promising materials for the creation of donor-acceptor systems. These findings demonstrate the potential of the TSE in molecular design and provide new avenues for creating functional materials.

Azomethine-Containing Pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole Copolymers for Simple and Degradable Conjugated Polymers

Conjugated polymers have received significant attention as potentially lightweight and highly tailorable alternatives to inorganic semiconductors, but their synthesis is often complex, produces toxic byproducts, and they are not typically designed to be degradable or recyclable. These drawbacks necessitate dedicated efforts to discover materials with design motifs that enable targeted and efficient degradation of conjugated polymers. In this vein, the synthetic simplicity of 1,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrroles (DHPPs) is exploited to access azomethine-containing copolymers via a benign acid-catalyzed polycondensation protocol. Polymerizations involve reacting a dialdehyde-functionalized dihydropyrrolopyrrole with p-phenylenediamine as the comonomer using p-toluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst. The inherent dynamic equilibrium of the azomethine bonds subsequently enabled the degradation of the polymers in solution in the presence of acid. Degradation of the polymers is monitored via NMR, UV-vis absorbance, and fluorescence spectroscopies, and the polymers are shown to be fully degradable. Notably, while absorbance measurements reveal a continued shift to higher energies with extended exposure to acid, fluorescence measurements show a substantial increase in the fluorescence response upon degradation. Results from this study encourage the continued development of environmentally-conscious polymerizations to attain polymeric materials with useful properties while simultaneously creating polymers with structural handles for end-of-life management or/and recyclability.

Tuning the electronic and optical properties of small organic acenedithiophene molecular crystals for photovoltaic applications: First principles calculations

Periodic density functional theory was employed to investigate the impact of chemical modifications on the properties of π-conjugated acenedithiophene molecular crystals. Here, we highlight the importance of the β-methylthionation effect, the position of the sulfur atoms of the thiacycle group and their size, and the number of central benzene rings in the chemical modification strategy. Our results show that the introduction of the methylthio groups at the β-positions of the thiophene and the additional benzene ring at the center of the BDT crystal structure are a promising strategy to improve the performance of organic semiconductors, as observed experimentally. We found that β-MT-ADT exhibits large charge carrier mobility, which is in good agreement with the experimental results and comparable to that of rubrene. In addition, the electronic and optical properties of these ambipolar materials suggest promising performances with β-MT-ADT > ADT >β-MT-NDT > NDT > BEDT-BDT >β-MT-BDT > BDT. Moreover, functionalization with thiacycle-fused sulfur atoms of different sizes and numbers improve the properties of BDT but is still less efficient than the methylthionation effect. Overall, our findings suggest a promising molecular modification strategy for possibly high performance ambipolar organic semiconducting materials.

3-Trifluoromethyl Pyrrole Synthesis Based on β-CF3-1,3-Enynamides

A new metal-free method for the rapid, productive, and scalable preparation of 3-trifluoromethyl pyrroles has been developed. It is based on the electrophilic nature of the double bond of β-CF3-1,3-enynamides due to the electron-withdrawing characteristics of the trifluoromethyl groups and the strong nucleophilic nature of alkyl primary amines. Evidence for the highly regioselective 1,4-hydroamination was observed after the isolation and characterization of the allenamide intermediate.

Chalcogenopheno[3,2-b]pyrrole-Containing Donor-Acceptor-Donor Organic Semiconducting Small Molecules for Organic Field-Effect Transistors

A group of chalcogenopheno[3,2-b]pyrroles, including thieno[3,2-b]pyrrole (TP), furo[3,2-b]pyrrole (FP), and selenopheno[3,2-b]pyrrole (SeP), and thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TT) electron-donating units were coupled with a thiophene-flanked diketopyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole (ThDPP) acceptor to generate four donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) semiconducting small molecules (ThDPP-TT, ThDPP-FP, ThDPP-TP, and ThDPP-SeP). This study systematically investigated the differences between chalcogenopheno[3,2-b]pyrroles and TT. From the characterizations, chalcogenopheno[3,2-b]pyrrole-containing molecules showed lower band gaps and binding-energy cold crystallization behavior. The enthalpies of cold crystallization were correlated with the weight of the chalcogen in ThDPP-FP, ThDPP-TP, and ThDPP-SeP, which were evaluated as intermolecular chalcogen-bond interactions between chalcogen and pyrrole nitrogen in chalcogenopheno[3,2-b]pyrroles. A stronger chalcogen bond interaction resulted in stronger self-aggregation in thin films with thermal treatment, which resulted in a polycrystalline structure in chalcogenopheno[3,2-b]pyrrole-containing molecules. For the application in an organic field-effect transistor, all four molecules showed good performance with the highest hole mobilities as 6.33 × 10-3 cm2 V-1 s-1 for ThDPP-TT, 2.08 × 10-2 cm2 V-1 s-1 for ThDPP-FP, 1.87 × 10-2 cm2 V-1 s-1 for ThDPP-TP, and 6.32 × 10-3 cm2 V-1 s-1 for ThDPP-SeP, and the change of mobility is well correlated to the root-mean-square roughness of the thin films. Overall, all the chalcogenopheno[3,2-b]pyrrole-containing molecules showed lower band gaps, polymorphism, and better charge transport properties compared to TT-containing molecules, which motivates replacing TT with chalcogenopheno[3,2-b]pyrroles in conjugated polymers, non-fullerene small molecular acceptors, and narrow-band-gap donors.

Relating Design and Optoelectronic Properties of 1,4-Dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrroles Bearing Biphenyl Substituents

Understanding the influence of peripheral functionality on optoelectronic properties of conjugated materials is an important task for the continued development of chromophores for myriad applications. Here, π-extended 1,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole (DHPP) chromophores with varying electron-donating or electron-withdrawing capabilities were synthesized via Suzuki cross-coupling reactions, and the influence of functionality on optoelectronic properties was elucidated. First, chromophores display distinct differences in the UV-vis absorbance spectra measured via UV-vis absorbance spectroscopy in addition to changes in the onset of oxidation measured with cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Solution oxidation studies found that variations in the electron-donating and -withdrawing capabilities result in different absorbance profiles of the radical cations that correspond to quantifiably different colors. In addition to fundamental insights into the molecular design of DHPP chromophores and their optoelectronic properties, two chromophores display high-contrast electrochromism, which makes them potentially compelling in electronic devices. Overall, this study represents the ability to fine-tune the optoelectronic properties of DHPP chromophores in their neutral and oxidized states and expands the understanding of structure-property relationships that will guide the continued development of DHPP-based materials.

Zr-Catalyzed Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted 1,3-Diacylpyrroles from N-Acyl α-Aminoaldehydes and 1,3-Dicarbonyls

A Zr-catalyzed synthesis of tetrasubstituted 1,3-diacylpyrroles is reported that employs the direct use of N-acyl α-aminoaldehydes with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. The products were formed in up to 88% yield and shown to be hydrolytically and configurationally stable under the reaction conditions (THF/1,4-dioxane and H₂O). The N-acyl α-aminoaldehydes were readily prepared from the corresponding α-amino acids. The reaction tolerates a wide array of substrate types including alkyl-, aryl-, heteroaryl-, and heteroatom-containing groups on the aminoaldehyde side chain. A variety of 1,3-dicarbonyls proved amenable to the reaction along with an aldehyde derived from a l,l-dipeptide, an aldehyde generated in situ, and an N-acylated glucosamine.

Polypyrrole-induced active-edge-S and high-valence-Mo reinforced composites with boosted electrochemical performance for the determination of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol in the aquatic environment

With the extensive application of halogenated aromatic compounds, including 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP), improper treatment or discharge contribute to persistently harmful effects on humans and the ecosystem, rendering the identification and monitoring of 2,4,6-TCP in the aquatic environment urgently required. In this study, a highly sensitive electrochemical platform was developed using active-edge-S and high-valence-Mo rich MoS₂/polypyrrole composites. MoS₂/PPy illustrates superior electrochemical performance and catalytic activity and has not been explored for detecting chlorinated phenols previously. The local environment of polypyrrole induces the richness of active edge S and a high oxidation state of Mo species in the composites, both of which endorse a sensitive anodic current response due to the favored oxidation of 2,4,6-TCP through nucleophilic substitution. Also, the higher complementarity between pyrrole and 2,4,6-TCP with respective electron-rich and electron-poor features through π-π stacking interactions enhances the specific detection capability of 2,4,6-TCP by the MoS₂/polypyrrole-modified electrode. The MoS₂/polypyrrole-modified electrode achieved a linear range of 0.1-260 μM with an ultralow limit of detection of 0.009 μM. Additionally, the structural stability boosted by the linkage of polypyrrole and MoS₂ results in good resistance and satisfactory recovery in real water samples. The compiled results demonstrate that the proposed MoS₂/polypyrrole composite opens up a new potential to advance a sensitive, selective, facile fabrication, and low-cost platform for the on-site determination of 2,4,6-TCP in aquatic systems. The sensing of 2,4,6-TCP is important to monitor its occurrence and transport, and can also serve to track the effectiveness and adjust subsequent remediation treatments applied to contaminated sites.

Nanocellulose-Based Adsorbents for Heavy Metal Ion

Heavy metal ions in industrial sewage constitute a serious threat to human health. Nanocellulose-based adsorbents are emerging as an environmentally friendly material platform for heavy metal ion removal based on their unique properties, which include high specific surface area, excellent mechanical properties, and biocompatibility. In this review, we cover the most recent works on nanocellulose-based adsorbents for heavy metal ion removal and present an in-depth discussion of the modification technologies for nanocellulose in the process of assembling high-performance heavy ion adsorbents. By introducing functional groups, such as amino, carboxyl, aldehyde, and thiol, the assembled nanocellulose-based adsorbents both remove single heavy metal ions and can selectively adsorb multiple heavy ions in water. Finally, the remaining challenges of nanocellulose-based adsorbents are pointed out. We anticipate that this review will provide indispensable guidance on the application of nanocellulose-based adsorbents for the removal of heavy metal ions.

Furan-Containing Chiral Spiro-Fused Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds: Synthesis and Photophysical Properties

Spiro-fused polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) have received growing interest as rigid chiral scaffolds. However, furan-containing spiro-fused PACs have been quite limited. Here, we design spiro[indeno[1,2-b][1]benzofuran-10,10′-indeno[1,2-b][1]benzothiophene] as a new family of spiro-fused PACs that contains a furan unit. The compound was successfully synthesized in enantiopure form and also transformed to its S,S-dioxide derivative and the pyrrole-containing analog via aromatic metamorphosis. The absorption and emission properties of the obtained furan-containing chiral spiro-fused PACs are apparently different from those of their thiophene analogs that have been reported, owing to the increased electron-richness of furan compared to thiophene. All of the furan-containing chiral spiro-fused PACs were found to be circularly polarized luminescent materials.

Catalytic Friedel-Crafts Alkylative Desymmetrization of Cyclohexa-2,5-dienones: Access to Linear and Bridged Polycyclic Pyrroles and 3-Arylpyrroles

A catalytic [3 + 2]-cycloaddition/Friedel-Crafts alkylative desymmetrization strategy has been developed for the stereoselective construction of linear and bridged polycyclic pyrroles from alkynylcyclohexa-2,5-dienones. This strategy was further explored for the synthesis of 3-arylpyrroles under Brønsted acid catalysis. Reaction is highly chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective and is compatible with wide range of functionalized cyclohexa-2,5-dienones/pyrroles (>51 examples, ≤98% yields). Gram-scale synthesis and synthetic utility of the products have also been demonstrated to showcase the robustness of present method.

Multifunctional Heteropentalenes: From Synthesis to Optoelectronic Applications

In the broad family of heteropentalenes, the combination of two five-membered heterocyclic rings fused in the [3,2-b] mode has attracted the most significant attention. The relatively straightforward access to these structures, being a consequence of the advances in the last two decades, combined with their physicochemical properties which match the requirements associated with many applications has led to an explosion of applied research. In this Perspective, we will discuss the recent progress of heteropentalenes' usefulness as an active element of organic light-emitting diodes and organic field-effect transistors. Among the myriad of possible combinations for the different heteroatoms, thieno[3,2-b]thiophenes and 1,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrroles are subject to the most intense studies. Together they comprise a potent optoelectronics tool resulting from the combination of appreciable photophysical properties, chemical reactivity, and straightforward synthesis.

A synthesis of fuctionalized 2-amino-3-cyano pyrroles from terminal alkynes, sulfonyl azides and phenacylmalononitriles

A new strategy for the construction of functionalized 2-amino-3-cyano pyrroles has been developed. The reactions involved a copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddtion reaction between terminal alkynes and sulfonyl azides followed by generation of N-sulfonoketenimine intermediates. Interception of these reactive ketenimines by phenacylmalononitriles in the presence of copper(I) iodide and Et₃N afforded the expected products. The reaction proceeded smoothly in THF at ambient temperature to afford the target compounds in 70-92% yields and excellent regioselectivity. Evidence for the structure of a typical product is obtained from single-crystal X-ray analyses.

Highly efficient hole injection from Au electrode to fullerene-doped triphenylamine derivative layer

Triphenylamine derivatives are superior hole-transport materials. For their application to high-functional organic semiconductor devices, efficient hole injection at the electrode/triphenylamine derivative interface is required. Herein, we report the design and evaluation of a Au/fullerene-doped α-phenyl-4'-[(4-methoxyphenyl)phenylamino]stilbene (TPA) buffer layer/TPA/Au layered device. It exhibits rectification conductivity, indicating that hole injection occurs more easily at the Au/fullerene-doped TPA interface than at the Au/TPA interface. The Richardson-Schottky analysis of the device reveals that the hole injection barrier (Φ_B) at the Au/fullerene-doped TPA interface decreases to 0.021 eV upon using C₇₀ as a dopant, and Φ_B of Au/TPA is as large as 0.37 eV. The reduced Φ_B of 0.021 eV satisfies the condition for ohmic contact at room temperature (Φ_B [Formula: see text] 0.025 eV). Notably, C₇₀ doping has a higher barrier-reduction effect than C₆₀ doping. Furthermore, a noteworthy hole-injection mechanism, in which the ion-dipole interaction between TPA and fullerenes plays an important role in reducing the barrier height, is considered based on cyclic voltammetry. These results should facilitate the design of an electrode/organic semiconductor interface for realizing low-voltage driven organic devices.

Recent progress of fiber-based transistors: materials, structures and applications

Wearable electronics on fibers or fabrics assembled with electronic functions provide a platform for sensors, displays, circuitry, and computation. These new conceptual devices are human-friendly and programmable, which makes them indispensable for modern electronics. Their unique properties such as being adaptable in daily life, as well as being lightweight and flexible, have enabled many promising applications in robotics, healthcare, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Transistors, one of the fundamental blocks in electronic systems, allow for signal processing and computing. Therefore, study leading to integration of transistors with fabrics has become intensive. Here, several aspects of fiber-based transistors are addressed, including materials, system structures, and their functional devices such as sensory, logical circuitry, memory devices as well as neuromorphic computation. Recently reported advances in development and challenges to realizing fully integrated electronic textile (e-textile) systems are also discussed.

Enhancement in Charge Carrier Mobility by Using Furan as Spacer in Thieno[3,2-b]Pyrrole and Alkylated-Diketopyrrolopyrrole Based Conjugated Copolymers

The structural alteration of semiconducting polymer backbones can improve the optoelectronic properties of organic semiconductors and enhance field-effect mobilities. In our efforts towards improving the performance of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), we are reporting a donor–acceptor polymer containing thieno[3,2-b]pyrrole (TP) donor and a furan-flanked diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) electron acceptor, which yielded an asymmetric poly(methylthienopyrrolo)furanyl)diketopyrrolopyrrol) P(FDPP-TP) organic semiconducting polymer. The introduction of a furan spacer improved thermally induced crystallinity and molecular packing, as confirmed by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (XRD) and tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (TMAFM). The tested OFET devices gave maximum hole mobility of 0.42 cm2 V−1 s−1 with threshold voltages around 0 V for bottom-gate bottom-contact device configuration.

Facile metal-free synthesis of pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrolyl-based conjugated microporous polymers for high-performance photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants

An efficient and metal-free approach to the synthesis of new kinds of CMPs (pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrolyl-based CMPs) on a gram scale within a short time has been developed for remarkable adsorbent and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants.

BF3-promoted reactions of α-amino acetals with alkynes to 2,5-disubstituted pyrroles

An efficient BF3-promoted cyclization of α-amino acetals with alkynes for the assembly of substituted pyrroles has been developed. This cascade process can be easily achieved through a simple metal-free operation under mild conditions.

Lawesson’s Reagent-Promoted Deoxygenation of γ-Hydroxylactams or Succinimides for the Syntheses of Substituted Pyrroles

A new method of Lawesson’s reagent-promoted deoxygenation of γ-hydroxypyrrolidones or succinimides is developed for synthesizing substituted pyrroles, where 92 examples are displayed. This reaction is featured by simple operation, satisfying...

Divergent copper-catalyzed syntheses of 3-carboxylpyrroles and 3-cyanofurans from O-acetyl oximes and β-ketoesters/nitriles

The reaction between O-acetyl oximes and β-ketoesters/nitriles catalyzed by copper generated polysubstituted pyrroles and furans, respectively, under redox–neutral reaction conditions. Using this protocol, pyrroles or furans could be obtained simply by choosing an appropriate active methylene compound. Although both transformations occur essentially under the same reaction conditions, control experiments indicated that they follow different mechanistic pathways.

A copper-catalyzed heteroannulation of O-acetyl oximes and β-ketoesters/nitriles to afford polysubstituted pyrroles and furans was successfully achieved.

Efficient Film Fabrication and Characterization of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):Poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)-Metalloporphine Nanocomposite and Its Application as Semiconductor Material

The use of composite films with semiconductor behavior is an alternative to enhance the efficiency of optoelectronic devices. Composite films of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and metalloporphines (MPs; M = Co, Cu, Pd) have been prepared by spin-coating. The PEDOT:PSS-MP films were treated with isopropanol (IPA) vapor to modify the polymer structure from benzoid to quinoid. The quinoid structure promotes improvements in the optical and electrical behavior of films. The composite films’ morphology and structure were characterized using infrared and Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Composite films were analyzed for their optical behavior by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy: at λ < 450 nm, the films become transparent, indicating the capacity to be used as transparent electrodes in optoelectronic devices. At λ ≥ 450 nm, the absorbance in the films increased significantly. The CoP showed an 8 times larger current density compared to the CuP. A light induced change in the J-V curves was observed, and it is larger for the CoP. The conductivity values yielded between 1.23 × 10² and 1.92 × 10³ Scm⁻¹ and were higher in forward bias.

Mechanochemical Syntheses of N-Containing Heterocycles with TosMIC

A mechanochemical van Leusen pyrrole synthesis with a base leads to 3,4-disubstitued pyrroles in moderate to excellent yields. The developed protocol is compatible with a range of electron-withdrawing groups and can also be applied to the synthesis of oxazoles. Attempts to mechanochemically convert the resulting pyrroles into porphyrins proved to be difficult.

Broadly Applicable Synthesis of Arylated Dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]pyrroles as Building Blocks for Organic Electronic Materials

A novel and versatile method for the N-arylation of dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]pyrrole (DTP) is presented. By Pd- or Cu-catalyzed coupling a variety of arenes and acenes were directly attached at the DTP-nitrogen yielding a variety of functionalized DTPs. Investigations on optical and redox properties led to valuable structure-property relationships, which were corroborated by quantum chemical calculations. Further functionalization and elongation of the conjugation of an acceptor-substituted DTP was elaborated to result in complex cruciform-type donor-acceptor oligomers, which were investigated and implemented in single material organic solar cells.

Synthesis of Dihydropyrrole Derivatives by Oxidative Functionalization of 2-Amino-4H-Chromenes Using Hypervalent Iodine Reagents

An efficient simple, metal-free, one-pot protocol for the synthesis of dihydropyrrole derivatives has been achieved via sequential addition of iodobenzenediacetate and secondary amine to 2-amino-4H- pyran derivatives. The one-pot protocol proceeds through tandem oxidative functionalization, rearrangement, and ring contraction to provide an entirely new strategy for the construction of the dihydropyrrole skeleton.

An isoxazole strategy for the synthesis of alkyl 5-amino-4-cyano-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates - versatile building blocks for assembling pyrrolo-fused heterocycles

A full atom-economical domino method has been developed for the preparation of alkyl 5-amino-4-cyano-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates by transannulation of 5-alkoxyisoxazoles with malononitrile under Fe(ii) catalysis. Alkyl 5-amino-4-cyano-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates are excellent building blocks for various annulation reactions, leading to new derivatives of 1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole and pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine. The DFT calculations of mechanistic details of alkyl 5-amino-4-cyano-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylate formation are presented.

Synthesis and characterization of S,N-heterotetracenes

The synthesis and optoelectronic properties of novel S,N-heterotetracenes consisting of fused heterocyclic thiophene and pyrrole rings are presented. Tetracyclic and benzannulated derivatives with a varying number and sequence of sulfur and nitrogen heteroatoms were synthesized in multistep synthetic routes. A Buchwald-Hartwig amination of brominated precursors, thermolysis of azide precursors, and a Cadogan reaction of nitro-substituted precursors were successfully applied to eventually build-up pyrrole rings to stable and soluble fused systems. The various obtained heteroatom sequences 'SSNS' (SN4), 'SNNS' (SN4''), and 'NSSN' (SN4') allowed for evaluation of structure-property relationships relative to the sulfur analogue tetrathienoacene ('SSSS'). In line with the results for the whole series of S,N-heteroacenes, we find that replacement of sulfur by nitrogen atoms in the tetra- and hexacyclic systems leads to a red-shift in absorption, a decrease in oxidation potential and energy gap. On the other hand, the replacement of a thiophene ring by benzene leads to the opposite effects.