Synthesis and Properties of Novel C3-Symmetric Coplanar Chromophores

Star-Shaped and Fused Electron Acceptors based on C3h -Symmetric Coplanar Trindeno[1, 2-b: 4, 5-b': 7, 8-b'']trithiophene Core for Non-Fullerene Solar Cells

Two new star-shaped and fused electron acceptors, TITT-3IC and TITT-3ICF have been designed and synthesized, which consist of a C_3h -symmetric coplanar trindeno[1, 2-b: 4, 5-b': 7, 8-b'']trithiophene (TITT) as the central core and 3-(dicyanomethylidene)indan-1-one and 2-(5,6-difluoro-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ylidene) malononitrile as the peripheral electron-withdrawing groups, respectively. With the large coplanar configuration and electron-rich nature of π-conjugated backbone, these two acceptors exhibit strong intermolecular charge transfer absorption in the region of 500-650 nm with the optical band gaps around 1.9 eV. Relative to TITT-3IC, TITT-3ICF shows the downshifted LUMO level and the slightly redshifted absorption with the higher molar extinction coefficient due to the stronger electron-withdrawing effect of fluorination. When blending with PTB7-Th, the TITT-3ICF-based device displays a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.26 % than the TITT-3IC-based device (PCE=3.87 %). Comparing with the TITT-3IC-based device, the increased short circuit current (J_SC ) and fill factor (FF) are responsible for the higher PCE value of the TITT-3ICF-based device, which benefits from its strong and redshifted absorption for light harvesting and proper phase separation morphology for effective exciton dissociation and charge transport. This work demonstrates that as an alternative electron-donating core, TITT will be promising in designing star-shaped non-fullerene materials.

Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer-Based Multifunctional Solid-State Emitter: A Fluorescent Platform with "Write-Erase-Write" Function

The excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT)-based molecular probes have drawn significant attention owing to their environment-sensitive fluorescence properties, large Stokes shift, and emerged as building blocks for the development of molecular sensors and switches. However, most of the ESIPT-based fluorophores exhibit weak emission in the solid state limiting the scope of real-time applications. Addressing such issues, herein, we presented a C₃ symmetric-like molecular architecture employing a simple one-step Schiff base condensation between triaminoguanidinium chloride and 3,5-di- tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde (TGHB). The temperature-dependent fluorescence studies including at 77 K indicated the strong emission from the keto tautomer compared to that of the enol tautomer. The facile ESIPT in TGHB in the solid-state led to a remarkable enhancement of fluorescence quantum yield of 1600 times compared to that of the solution (λ_em = 545 nm) by restricting the intramolecular rotation and subsequently suppressing the nonradiative deactivation. The excited-state processes were further elucidated through time-resolved fluorescence measurements. TGHB exhibited turn on-off fluorescence upon exposure to acid/base vapor in the form of a powder as well as a transparent, free-standing thin film. A rewritable and erasable fluorescent platform was demonstrated using TGHB as molecular ink, which offers a potential testbed for performing "write-erase-write" cycles multiple times. In addition, TGHB, possessing multiple binding sites (O and N donors) involving the central core of the triaminoguanidinium cation displayed selective turn-on fluorescence with Zn²⁺. The structure-property relationship revealed in the present study provides insight into the development of novel cost-effective multifunctional materials, which are promising for stimuli-responsive molecular switches.

The synthesis of lactone-bridged 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene derivatives as pi-expanded coumarin triskelions

Two triply lactone-bridged 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene derivatives with solubilizing moieties have been synthesized in five and six steps from commercially available starting materials. Compounds containing the 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene core with two atom bridges are relatively unknown. This new class of pi-expanded coumarins contain triskelion architectures and X-ray crystallographic studies of one of the triskelions indicates that the 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene core adopts a near-planar geometry. This is the only known example of a two atom-bridged 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene derivative to adopt a planar structure.

Fused π-Extended Truxenes via a Threefold Borylation as the Key Step

On the basis of a threefold borylated truxene, which is accessible in high yields by iridium-catalyzed borylation under CH-activation, fused π-extended truxenes have been synthesized by a two-step method of first Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction and subsequent condensation reaction. The mild condensation method tolerates the presence of a variety of functional groups, such as nitro, fluoro, or carboxyl moieties. Furthermore, by using this approach, N- and S-heteroarene analogues become accessible for the first time, as well as larger structures that represent derivatives of precursors for fullerene C60 or buckybowls. The attached tert-butyl groups make all derivatives sufficiently soluble to allow full spectroscopic and electrochemical investigations. Postfunctionalization of selected derivatives for further synthetic applications of the compounds is also presented.

Novel planar and star-shaped molecules: synthesis, electrochemical and photophysical properties

Three novel planar and star-shaped molecules containing thiophene-functionalized group and acetylenic spacers, 4-((5″-iodo-[2,2':5',2″-terthiophen]-5-yl)ethynyl)aniline (I3TEA), 4,4'-([2,2':5',2″-terthiophene]-5,5″-diylbis(ethyne-2,1-diyl))dianiline (3TDDA), 1,3,5-tris((5-((trimethylsilyl)ethynyl)thiophen-2-yl)ethynyl)benzene (TETEB) were synthesized through Sonogashira coupling reaction. Their photophysical and electrochemical properties were explored by UV-vis, photoluminescence (PL) emission and DFT calculation. Three compounds possess unusual phenomena of PL, with the concentration of gradually decreased, the intensity of PL firstly increased and then decreased, this may be due to the aggregate-enhanced emission (AEE) effect and aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect. Their spectroscopic data demonstrate that D-π-A-π-D structured organic dye 3TDDA based on NH2 as donor units and 3T as acceptor units with acetylenic spacers π-conjugated chain between them exhibits good luminescent properties. Dye I3TEA with donor(D)-acceptor(A) structure shows good charge transfer because of amino functional group and iodine atom. Octupolar organic π-conjugated star-shaped molecule TETEB possesses excellent luminescent properties because of its unique structure applied in the optoelectronic field. The redox curves and results of DFT calculations suggest that three compounds have low ionization potential and low Eoxd. All the good properties demonstrate three compounds could be promising candidates for photovoltaic materials.

Thiophene-functionalized octupolar triindoles: synthesis and photophysical properties

Two thiophene-functionalized octupolar triindole molecules were synthesized through Suzuki and Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions. Their photophysical and electrochemical properties were explored. The spectroscopic data demonstrate that triindole is an excellent rich electronic central donor for building octupolar optoelectronic molecules and possesses excellent luminescent properties. Thiophenylethynyl substituted triindole compound 3,8,13-tri(2-thiophenylethynyl)-5,10,15-tributyltriindole forms an intermolecular aggregation induced by π-π stacking from the rigid coplanar molecular scaffold. The redox curves and results of theoretical calculation imply that the two compounds have low ionization potential and low E(1/2 oxd), which may be originated from the high electronic density of both triindole and thiophene groups.