Combined Spectroelectrochemical and Theoretical Study of a Vinylene-Bridged Sexithiophene Cooligomer: Analysis of the π-Electron Delocalization and of the Electronic Defects Generated upon Doping

Thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione Oligothiophenes Have Two Crossed Paths for Electron Delocalization

A new series of electron-deficient oligothiophenes, thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione oligothiophenes (OTPD_n ), from the monomer to hexamer, is reported. The optical and structural properties in the neutral states have been analyzed by absorption and emission spectroscopy together with vibrational Raman spectroscopy. In their reduced forms, these molecules could stabilize both anions and dianions in similar ways. For the dianions, two independent modes of electron conjugation of the charge excess were observed: the interdione path and the interthiophene path. The interference of these two paths highlighted the existence of a singlet diradical ground electronic state and the appearance of low-energy, thermally accessible triplet states. These results provide valuable insights into the device performance of TPD-based materials and for the rational design of new high-performance organic semiconductors.

Designing new symmetrical facial oligothiophene amphiphiles

In this study we designed a new class of symmetrical facial oligothiophene amphiphiles, which could be obtained in fewer steps than for previously reported analogues, but still possess the specific substituent sequence to control their backbone curvature. This novel design allows the late-stage introduction of hydrophilic groups, aiding both purification and ease of structure variation. Following the new synthetic scheme, symmetrical ter- and sexi-thiophenes were synthesized, analysed and their properties were compared to their non-symmetrical analogues. Surprisingly, the self-assembly behaviour in water, aggregate morphologies and photo-physical properties turned out to be significantly different despite the same ratio of hydrophilic and hydrophobic substituents. The new substitution pattern resulted in a drastic decrease of the critical aggregation concentration and an increase of the aggregate size. The symmetrical positioning of the substituents also heavily influenced the photo-physical properties. The changes were observed as large blue shifts in the absorption and emission spectra in water when compared to similar regio-regular oligothiophene amphiphiles.

Spectroscopic investigation on the efficient organic nonlinear crystals of pure and diethanolamine added DAST

4-N,N'-dimethylamino-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium toyslate (DAST) and diethanolamine (DEA) added DAST crystals are grown by slow cooling method. The corresponding powder samples are examined by characterization studies such as XRD, FT-IR, FT-Raman, UV-Vis-NIR and photoluminescence studies. From the powder X-ray diffraction, their lattice parameter values are found out. Since the vibrational spectra of the molecules are considerably contributed to their linear and nonlinear optical effects, Infrared and Raman spectroscopic studies are carried out for the samples. The UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectra of the samples are used to find the nature of transitions occurred in the samples. Using the density functional theory, highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) analyses are done in order to explain the transition and density of states (DOS). The first order hyperpolarizability is calculated by HF and B3LYP/6-311 G(d,p) basis sets for the DAST molecule. From the photoluminescence (PL) spectral studies, the strong excitation emissions are observed.

A Spectroscopic and Computational Study of the Neutral and Radical Cation Species of Conjugated Aryl-Substituted 2,5-Bis(2-thien-2-ylethenyl)thiophene-Based Oligomers

A spectroscopic and computational study of a series of 2,5-bis(2-thien-2-ylethenyl) thiophene-based oligomers with a para-R-arylethenyl substituent is reported. The primary aim of this investigation is to increase understanding of how charge moves through these molecules by comparing the neutral and oxidized structures for each molecule. To this end, the B3LYP/6-31G(d) computational method was used to calculate the geometry and vibrational spectra for all molecules considered and their oxidation products. For vibrational data, mean absolute deviations for frequencies between experimental and theoretical results ranging from 2 to 18 cm-1 were obtained. Experimental Raman spectroscopy, in conjunction with calculated bond length analyses, was used to gain an insight into the position and delocalization of the charged defect on the oxidized oligomers. The relative frequencies of different ethylene stretching modes served as a particularly useful probe in this regard. It was found that the ethenyl spacers do not impede pi-electron delocalization and, therefore, give rise to a longer conjugation length relative to the corresponding terthiophenes. Furthermore, the para-R-arylethenyl substituent was found to orientate the charged defect toward a specific region of the 2,5-bis(2-thien-2-ylethenyl)thiophene conjugation path.

Raman spectroscopy of short-lived terthiophene radical cations generated by photochemical and chemical oxidation

The Raman spectra of various terthiophene radical cations are investigated; namely those of unsubstituted terthiophene and two styryl-substituted terthiophenes. Transient pump-probe resonance Raman spectroscopy is used to measure the short-lived radical cation spectra of non-end-capped 2,2':5',2''-terthiophene (3T) and 3'-[(E)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethenyl]-2,2':5',2''-terthiophene (NO2-pe3T). For these two compounds, the radical cations are generated via either direct photogeneration or photochemically using the electron acceptor tetracyanoethylene. The radical cation of 5,5''-dimethyl-3'-[(E)-2-phenylethenyl]-2,2':5',2''-terthiophene (DM-pe3T) is stable for up to five minutes as a result of the two alpha end caps and continuous-wave resonance Raman spectroscopy and chemical oxidation is used to obtain the spectrum of this radical cation. The resonance Raman spectra of all three terthiophene radical cations are dominated by a group of very intense bands in the low-frequency region. These bands have been assigned, by density functional theory methods, to C-S stretching modes coupled to thiophene ring deformations. These modes are significantly less intense in the sigma-dimer of NO2-pe3T [i.e. the corresponding styryl sexithiophene (NO2-pe3T)2]. This observation is attributed to a smaller change in the C--S bond order in the sexithiophene compared to the analogous terthiophene. This bond order difference may be rationalised by consideration of the singly occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, which are involved in the electronic transition probed by the laser excitation wavelength.

Raman and theoretical study of the solvent effects on the sizable intramolecular charge transfer in the push-pull 5-(dimethylamino)-5'-nitro-2,2'-bithiophene

In this paper, we analyze the degree of intramolecular charge transfer in a push-pull pi-conjugated system, 5-(dimethylamino)-5'-nitro-2,2'-bithiophene, from changes in frequencies and relative intensities of its strongest Raman scatterings in a bunch of solvents with different polarities. Density functional theory (DFT) was used as a support of the experimental study. Solvent effects on the molecular and electronic structures and on the vibrational properties were estimated by performing B3LYP/6-31G calculations within the framework of the polarized continuum model (PCM) developed by Tomasi. Calculations reveal that the molecule is highly polarized in the ground state and behaves as a very efficient photoinduced push-pull system. The polarization of the molecule strongly increases with solvent polarity and determines that the profile of the Raman spectra greatly changes from one solvent to another and in going to the solid. The strongest Raman scattering associated with the nu(sym)(NO(2)) stretching undergoes a downshift of 48 cm(-1) in passing from CCl(4) to the solid. DFT calculations provide a comprehensive interpretation of the evolution of the Raman spectra with solvent polarity.

Hole-vibronic coupling in oligothiophenes: impact of backbone torsional flexibility on relaxation energies

Density functional theory calculations together with highly resolved gas-phase ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy have been applied to oligothiophene chains with up to eight thiophene rings. One of the important parameters governing the charge transport properties in the condensed phase is the amount of energy relaxation upon ionization. Here, we investigate the impact on this parameter of the backbone flexibility present in oligothiophenes as a result of inter-ring torsional motions. With respect to oligoacenes that are characterized by a coplanar and rigid backbone, the torsional flexibility in oligothiophenes adds to the relaxation energy and leads to the broadening of the first ionization peak, making its analysis more complex.

Thiophene- and Selenophene-Based Heteroacenes: Combined Quantum Chemical DFT and Spectroscopic Raman and UV−Vis−NIR Study

In this article, we report the characterization of a series of thiophene- and selenophene-based heteroacenes, materials with potential applications in organic electronics. In contrast to the usual alpha-oligothiophenes, these annelated oligomers have a larger band gap than most semiconductors currently used in the fabrication of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) and therefore they are expected to be more stable in air. The synthesis of these fused-ring molecular materials was motivated by the notion that a more rigid and planar structure should reduce defects (such as torsion about single bonds between alpha-linked units or S-syn defects) and thus improve pi-conjugation for better charge-carrier mobility. The conjugational properties of these heteroacenes have been investigated by means of FT-Raman spectroscopy, revealing that pi-conjugation increases with the increasing number of annelated rings. DFT and TDDFT quantum chemical calculations have been performed, at the B3LYP/6-31G** level, to assess information regarding the minimum-energy molecular structure, topologies, and absolute energies of the frontier molecular orbitals around the gap, vibrational normal modes related to the main Raman features, and vertical one-electron excitations giving rise to the main optical absorptions.

Fourier Transform Raman and DFT Study of Three Annulated Oligothiophenes with Different Molecular Shapes

Herein, we study the conjugation properties of three different thienoacenes, each of which has three or four fused thiophene rings, by means of Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy. The B3LYP/6-31G** vibrational analysis of all of the collected spectroscopic data evidences that the selective enhancement of a limited number of Raman scatterings is related to the occurrence in the three thienoacenes of a vibronic coupling between the lowest unoccupied frontier molecular orbital (LUMO) and some Raman-active skeletal nu(C==C) stretching modes of 1600-1300 cm(-1).

Structure−Property Relationships in Push−Pull Amino/Cyanovinyl End-Capped Oligothiophenes: Quantum Chemical and Experimental Studies

A series of push-pull chromophores built around thiophene-based pi-conjugating spacers and bearing various types of amino donors and cyanovinyl acceptors have been analyzed by means of UV-vis-NIR, IR, and Raman spectroscopic measurements in the solid state as well as in solution. The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) of these pi-conjugated systems has also been tested by analyzing the ability of the solute molecules to undergo shifts in their fluorescence emission maxima with increasing solvent polarity. These push-pull oligomers also display an attractive electrochemical behavior since they generate stable species both upon oxidation and reduction. Oxidation mainly involves changes in the electron-rich aminooligothienyl half-part of the molecule and leads to the formation of stable cations. On the other hand, reduction to radical anions and dianions is mainly cyanovinyl-centered but also affects the pi-conjugated electron relay. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out to help the assignment of the most relevant electronic and vibrational features and to derive useful information about the molecular structure of these NLO-phores.

Tuning from π,π* to Charge-Transfer Excited States in Styryl-Substituted Terthiophenes: An Ultrafast and Steady-State Emission Study

The steady-state and transient emission properties of unsubstituted terthiophene and a series of 3'-[E-2-(4-R-phenyl)ethenyl]-2,2':5',2' '-terthiophenes (where R = H, MeO, NH(2), CN, NMe(2), NO(2)) have been examined. The R = NO(2) compound is nonemissive at room temperature in all solvents but cyclohexane. All of the other compounds show measurable steady-state emission in a variety of solvents. The behavior of these spectra may be split into two groups. The first group, those substituted compounds with R = CN, NH(2) and NMe(2), show solvatochromic behavior, where their Lippert-Mataga plots suggest changes in dipole upon photoexcitation ranging from 12.5 to 16.0 D. For the second group, where R = H and MeO (and unsubstituted terthiophene as well), the Lippert-Mataga plots indicate dipole moment changes ranging from 0 to 7.9 D. The difference in behavior between the two groups of emissive compounds can be attributed to a charge-transfer character of the emitting state in the first group. This conclusion is supported by density functional theory calculations, which show that the frontier MOs in the group one compounds are spatially separated whereas those of group two have frontier MOs that are delocalized over both the styryl and terthiophene moieties. Picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy reveals that unsubstituted terthiophene has the shortest emission lifetime of 140 ps in acetonitrile. For the styryl substituted terthiophenes, the lifetimes are much longer and range from 320 to 670 ps for R = CN and NMe(2) respectively, a result that can be explained in terms of a smaller rate of intersystem crossing in these compounds.

The effect of oxidation on the structure of styryl-substituted sexithiophenes: A resonance Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory study

The structures and vibrational properties of a series of styryl-substituted sexithiophenes and their charged species have been examined using resonance Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with density functional theory calculations. The calculated geometries of the radical cations and dications indicate that the quinoidal charged defects are more strongly localized in the center of the thiophene backbone than is observed in other sexithiophenes. This defect confinement, induced by the positions of the styryl substituents, is particularly evident in the dication species. However, the defect confinement weakens when alkoxy groups are added onto the phenyl rings by causing the extension of the charged defect into the styryl groups. The Raman spectra of the neutral styryl sexithiophenes are dominated by intense thiophene symmetrical stretching modes in both the measured and predicted spectra. Oxidation generates radical cations and dications, both of which can be observed in the solution state resonance Raman spectra. Unlike other sexithiophenes, which generally show a downshift of the intense thiophene stretching mode from the radical cation to the dication, a small upshift is observed for the styryl-substituted sexithiophenes. The theoretical spectra predict an insignificant change during this transition and the eigenvector for this mode reveals that it is localized over the same area occupied by the confined defect. In contrast, the solid state resonance Raman spectra of electrochemically oxidized films reveal evidence of solely radical cations and there is an appreciable downshift of the intense thiophene stretching mode compared with the corresponding mode in the solution spectra. This implies that the increase in the effective conjugation length from the solution to the solid state is greater for the radical cations than for the neutral species. It therefore appears that the radical cations form pi stacks in the solid film and the resulting intermolecular interactions effectively allow a further extension of the electron delocalization.

Combined Quantum Chemical Density Functional Theory and Spectroscopic Raman and UV−vis−NIR Study of Oligothienoacenes with Five and Seven Rings

In this article, we report the characterization of novel oligothienoacenes with five and seven fused thiophene rings, materials with potential applications in organic electronics. In contrast to usual alpha-linked oligothiophenes, these fused oligothiophenes have a larger band gap than most semiconductors currently used in the fabrication of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) and therefore they are expected to be more stable in air. The synthesis of these fused-ring oligomers was motivated by the notion that a more rigid and planar structure should reduce defects (such as torsion about single bonds between alpha-linked units or S-syn defects) and thus improve conjugation for better charge-carrier mobility. The conjugational properties of these two molecular materials have been investigated by means of FT-Raman spectroscopy, revealing that conjugation still increases in passing from the five-ring oligomer to that with seven-rings. DFT and TDDFT quantum chemical calculations have been performed, at the B3LYP/6-31G level, to assess information regarding the minimum-energy molecular structure, topologies, and absolute energies of the frontier molecular orbitals (MOs.) around the gap, vibrational normal modes related to the main Raman features, and vertical one-electron excitations giving rise to the main optical absorptions.

Development of Many−Body Polarizable Force Fields for Li-Battery Components: 1. Ether, Alkane, and Carbonate-Based Solvents

Classical many-body polarizable force fields were developed for n-alkanes, perflouroalkanes, polyethers, ketones, and linear and cyclic carbonates on the basis of quantum chemistry dimer energies of model compounds and empirical thermodynamic liquid-state properties. The dependence of the electron correlation contribution to the dimer binding energy on basis-set size and level of theory was investigated as a function of molecular separation for a number of alkane, ether, and ketone dimers. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the force fields accurately predicted structural, dynamic, and transport properties of liquids and unentangled polymer melts. On average, gas-phase dimer binding energies predicted with the force field were between those from MP2/aug-cc-pvDz and MP2/aug-cc-pvTz quantum chemistry calculations.

Mesitylthio-Oligothiophenes in Various Redox States. Molecular and Electronic Views as Offered by Spectroscopy and Theory

A series of alpha,omega-bis(mesitylthio)oligothiophenes of various chain lengths and with different side substitution patterns have been studied in their oxidized states by means of electron absorption and Raman spectroscopies in combination with theory in the framework of the density functional theory. Upon chemical oxidation, stable radical cations, dications, and even radical trications are generated. Longer chain lengths better stabilize higher oxidation states. The tetramer can be easily converted to the dication, and a trication can be obtained for the ethylenedioxy derivative. The alpha,omega-sulfur atoms are actively involved in the formation of the charged species and exert a favorable tuning of their electronic structure. Raman spectra provide experimental evidence of the attainment of quinoidal structures within the conjugated path, initially heteroaromatic, with different extension as a function of the p-doping level.

Synthesis and Characterization of Three Novel Perfluoro-oligothiophenes Ranging in Length from the Trimer to the Pentamer

In this Article, we report on the synthesis and full characterization of three perfluorinated oligothiophenes, ranging in length from the trimer to the pentamer (PF-nT, with n = 3, 4, or 5). The differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) analysis of the compounds showed that they can be both oxidized and reduced (i.e., they display a dual or amphoteric electrochemical behavior), with the reduction peaks positively shifted relative to those of the corresponding unsubstituted oligothiophenes. The electrochemically determined energy gaps are in agreement with those measured from the UV-vis-NIR absorption spectra in solution. The conjugational properties have been investigated by means of FT-Raman spectroscopy, both as pure solids and as dilute solutes in CH(2)Cl(2), revealing that: (i) pi-conjugation does not still reach saturation with chain length for the longest oligomer, and (ii) conformational distortions from a nearly coplanar arrangement of the successive thiophene units upon solution are not too large. DFT and TDDFT quantum chemical calculations have been performed, at the B3LYP/6-31G level, to assess information about the optimized molecular structure, equilibrium atomic charges distribution, energies and topologies of the frontier molecular orbitals (MO) around the gap, vibrational normal modes associated with the most outstanding Raman scatterings, and vertical one-electron excitations that give rise to the main optical absorptions.

Incisive Structure−Spectroscopic Correlation in Oligothiophenes Functionalized with (±) Inductive/Mesomeric Fluorine Groups: Joint Raman and DFT Study

This paper presents a combined experimental Raman and density functional theory (DFT) study of a series of oligothiophenes with variable pi-core lengths and substituted at the alpha,omega- and beta,beta'-terminal positions with perfluorohexyl, perfluorohexylcarbonyl, perfluoroarene, and cyano groups. The study covers the neutral and the electrochemically oxidized samples. The spectra have been assigned with the help of B3LYP/6-31G** calculations and interpreted by the predictions of effective conjugation coordinate (ECC) theory. Direct relationships between the bond length alternation (BLA) parameters and the Raman wavenumbers of the two most important bands of the spectra have been outlined showing the collective character of their electronic and vibrational properties. It is found that the topology of the thienyl electronic structure is not uniform along the conjugated core with the external rings more aromatic, whereas for the innermost part the pi-electron delocalization is greater and extends with the increment of chain length. Perfluorohexyl substitution finely tunes the electronic properties via negative inductive effects. The beta,beta' isomers exhibit larger conformational distortion, which strongly modifies the mean conjugation length. Oxidation provokes electronic structure quinoidization spreading over the whole system but more marked in the central part of the pi-core. The Raman features associated to quinoidization in the oxidized species have been interpreted in relation to the oligomer core length and the substitution regiochemistry.

Alternated Quinoid/Aromatic Units in Terthiophenes Building Blocks for Electroactive Narrow Band Gap Polymers. Extended Spectroscopic, Solid State, Electrochemical, and Theoretical Study

We report here the synthesis of three novel pi-conjugated heterocyclic mixed trimers that contain two electron-donating 3,4-ethylenedioxy-2-thienyl (EDOT) units covalently attached to a central proquinoid electron-accepting thienopyrazine moiety (two of these narrow-HOMO-LUMO gap D-A-D compounds also bear hexyl side chains attached either to the outermost alpha positions of the EDOT end rings or to the beta positions of the pyrazine fused ring). The modification of the terthiophene structure upon EDO, pyrazine, and hexyl substitutions has been treated in detail with spectroscopic and theoretical arguments. Solid-state properties reveal the occurrence of short intramolecular contacts between heteroatoms of adjacent rings. The analysis of the structure of the pi-conjugated backbone of each molecule is consistent with a partial quinoid-like pattern which partially reverts to be subtly more aromatic depending on the topology of the positive inductive effect of the hexyl chains. This quinoidization is a consequence of the appearance of a D(EDOT)-->A(PyT)<--D(EDOT) intramolecular charge transfer which further polarizes the structure. The same chemical concepts have been applied to address their electrochemical behavior. The three mixed trimers exhibit amphoteric properties due to the combination of electron acceptor and donor groups. Given their relative low HOMO-LUMO energy gap, these trimers promise to be good candidates for obtaining polymers with significant low energy gap combining electroactivity.

Multidisciplinary Physicochemical Analysis of Oligothiophenes End-Capped by Nitriles: Electrochemistry, UV−Vis−Near-IR, IR, and Raman Spectroscopies and Quantum Chemistry

In this article, we investigate a series of alpha,omega-dicyano end-capped oligothiophenes NC(C(4)H(2)S)(n)()CN ranging in length from the dimer to the hexamer (n = 2-6), in the neutral state as pure solids, by means of Fourier transform IR and Fourier transform Raman (FT-Raman) spectroscopies. The cyclic voltammetry analysis of the compounds in dichloromethane reveals that most of them show two oxidation and two reduction waves (i.e., a dual or amphoteric electrochemical behavior), associated with the injection of either positive or negative charges into the pi-conjugated system. The doped species are characterized by in situ vis-near-IR and FT-Raman spectrochemistries. Density functional theory calculations have been also performed, at the B3LYP/6-31G level, to assess information about the molecular geometries and vibrational features of the neutral and doped species and about the topologies of the molecular orbitals involved in the main electronic transitions that appear for the neutral forms in the visible spectral region and for the doped species in the near-IR region.

Electronic modulation of dithienothiophene (DTT) as pi-center of D-pi-D chromophores on optical and redox properties: analysis by UV-Vis-NIR and Raman spectroscopies combined with electrochemistry and quantum chemical DFT calculations

In this paper, we study three symmetrical D-pi-D chromophores containing dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]thiophene (DTT) as the pi-center and various donor end moieties, by means of UV-vis-NIR and FT-Raman spectroscopy and in situ spectroelectrochemistry. The compounds display dual redox properties: all exhibited two oxidations and single stable reduction peaks contrarily to the one or two oxidations and none reduction which could be anticipated in view of their chemical structures. We analyze the possible electronic modulation by the pi-conjugated DTT relay in the redox process and electronic coupling between the two electron donor (D) units attached through conjugation to opposite sides of the pi-linker. To this end, the UV-vis-NIR and FT-Raman spectra of the neutral compounds and of the charged species generated upon in situ p- or n-doping have been recorded and interpreted with the help of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. The analysis of the peculiar Raman features of these pi-conjugated chromophores is guided by the formalism of the Effective Conjugation Coordinate (ECC) theory. This research shows that the Raman spectroscopic characterization of this type of D-pi-D structures is a powerful tool to derive information about their pi-conjugational properties in the pristine and doped states.

Exploration of the electronic structure of dendrimerlike acetylene-bridged oligothiophenes by correlating Raman spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and theory

A series of radial thiophene-based structures consisting of a central benzene or thiophene ring surrounded by acetylene-bridged terthienyl arms has been investigated by physical and theoretical methods. Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy of the neutral solids shows that the terthiophene arms are weakly coupled across the core (benzene plus acetylene groups) likely due to cross-conjugation or meta-conjugation effects that may prevent full delocalization. By increasing the number of arms around the central ring, the electronic structure of the molecules seems to be affected only at the core, whereas the outer terthiophene arms remain almost unaltered. Raman spectroelectrochemistry and quantum chemical calculations provide further insight into the charge delocalization of the oxidized species. There is no evidence to suggest that these oxidized forms, obtained upon electrochemical doping of the molecules, show charge delocalization across the core.

Nitro-functionalized oligothiophenes as a novel type of electroactive molecular material: spectroscopic, electrochemical, and computational study

A novel series of terthiophenes bearing electron-donor and electron-acceptor groups at the end alpha-positions has been prepared. The analysis of the UV-vis, infrared, and Raman spectra, performed with the aid of density functional theory calculations, shows that the asymmetrically substituted nitro compounds PhT(3)NO(2) and BrT(3)NO(2) behave as push-pull systems and present an intense photoinduced charge transfer in the visible spectrum. The symmetrically substituted dinitro compound NO(2)T(3)NO(2) displays a highly delocalized structure with a low single-double bond length alternation and also displays a low-energy absorption band in the visible region. The novel nitroterthiophenes possess attractive electrochemical properties since they generate stable species both upon oxidation and reduction. Oxidation mainly involves changes in the oligothiophene backbone and leads to the formation of stable cations even for NO(2)T(3)NO(2). Reduction is mainly nitro-centered but also affects the conjugated structure. Radical anions and dianions are formed for PhT(3)NO(2) and BrT(3)NO(2). Dianions, not radical anions, and trianions are obtained for NO(2)T(3)NO(2). Nitro-functionalized terthiophenes are shown to be very promising as electroactive molecular materials since they behave as push-pull systems, present a very intense photoinduced charge transfer in the visible region, and could act as both n- and p-channel conductors in organic electronic transistors.