Fused Quinoidal Dithiophene-Based Helicenes: Synthesis by Intramolecular Radical-Radical Coupling Reactions and Dynamics of Interconversion of Enantiomers

A series of fused quinoidal dithiophene-based double and triple helicenes (1-M, 2-M, 2-M-Cl, 3-M, 3-M-Cl) were synthesized by intramolecular radical-radical coupling followed by oxidative dehydrogenation reaction. These helical molecules show dynamic interconversion of enantiomers in solution as revealed by variable-temperature NMR measurements, and the energy barriers are correlated to the substituents and topological structures. Notably, dynamic high performance liquid chromatography was used to quantitatively investigate the room-temperature racemization process between the (P,P,M)- and (P,M,M)- enantiomers of the triple helical 3-M-Cl, which gave an interconversion energy barrier in consistent with density functional theory calculations. Their optical and electrochemical properties are dependent on the fusion mode. Our studies provide both new synthetic strategy and new dynamic analytical method for helicenes with unique electronic structure.

New fused conjugated molecules with fused thiophene and pyran units for organic electronic materials

Rigid and planar conjugated molecules have substantial significance due to their potential applications in organic electronics. Herein we report two highly fused ladder type conjugated molecules, TTCTTC and TTTCTTTC, with up to 10 fused rings in which the fused-thiophene rings are fused to the chromeno[6,5,4-def]chromene unit. Both molecules show high HOMO levels and accordingly they can be oxidized into their radical cations with absorptions extending to 1300 nm in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid. Thin films of TTCTTC and TTTCTTTC exhibit p-type semiconductor properties with hole mobilities up to 0.39 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. Moreover, TTCTTC shows a high fluorescence quantum yield of up to 16.5% in the solid state.

Fused conjugated molecules TTCTTC and TTTCTTTC with up to ten heterocycles were constructed by fusing fused-thiophene to the chromeno[6,5,4-def]chromene unit.

Angular-Shaped Naphthalene Bis(1,5-diamide-2,6-diylidene)malononitrile for High-Performance, Air-Stable N-Type Organic Field-Effect Transistors

The synthesis, characterization, and application of two angular-shaped naphthalene bis(1,5-diamide-2,6-diylidene)malononitriles (NBAMs) as high-performance air-stable n-type organic field effect transistor (OFET) materials are reported. NBAM derivatives exhibit deep lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels, suitable for air-stable n-type OFETs. The OFET device based on NBAM-EH fabricated by vapor deposition exhibits a maximum electron mobility of 0.63 cm² V^-1 s^-1 in air with an on/off current ratio ( I_on/ I_off) of 10⁵.

The role of intramolecular charge transfer and symmetry breaking in the photophysics of pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole-dione

This paper reveals structurally unique π-expanded pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole and its non-typical photophysical behaviour.

Nonplanar Butterfly-Shaped π-Expanded Pyrrolopyrroles

Large aza-analogues of curved polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with a double-helicene structure present unique features for molecular photonics. We present the preparation and characterization of three such structures. The synthesis of these heterocyclic nanographenes involves only a few high-yield steps that use readily available starting materials. X-ray analysis revealed that each of these new dyes has three conformational isomers: one diastereoisomer in a meso form and two enantiomers in twisted forms [(P,P)] and [(M,M)]. The low energy barriers between the conformers, however, prevent their separation by using chiral HPLC, and the NMR spectra show only one set of signals for each of these curved compounds. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations quantify the small energy difference and the small energy barriers between the chiral and meso forms, which fully supports the experimental results. Their optical absorption lacks any sensitivity to the solvent environment, whereas their fluorescence features exhibit pronounced solvatochromism. This rarely observed solvatofluorochromism of centrosymmetric molecules without either electron-withdrawing groups or -donating substituents was probed by using time-resolved spectroscopy. These studies suggest that, similar to 9,9'-bianthryl, the nonpolar locally excited state shows negligible solvatochromism, whereas the charge-transfer state is sensitive to solvent polarity.

A Molecular Tetrapod for Organic Photovoltaics

The synthesis and characterization of a molecular tetrapod, SFBTD, featuring a tetraphenylsilane center and four identical conjugated arms, which structurally resembles breakwaters in common wave-reducing shore constructions, are reported. Cyclic voltammetry reveals that SFBTD has a medium band gap of ca. 2.0 eV and a low-lying HOMO energy level at ca. -5.2 eV. Absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry experiments reveal a low degree of crystallinity in this compound and slow crystallization kinetics. Bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaics (OPVs) employing SFBTD and fullerene derivatives exhibit power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) up to 1.05% and open-circuit voltage (VOC) values as high as 1.02 V. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest PCE obtained for OPVs employing molecular tetrapods as donor materials. These devices are relatively thermally stable due to the known ability of breakwater tetrapods to interlock, preventing dislodging and sliding. The lack of favorable phase separations and low hole mobilities of the blend films are the major factors limiting the device performance. Ternary blend devices by the addition of three low band gap poly(thienylene vinylene) (PTV) derivatives were fabricated and tested. We found that the added PTVs acted to be either the major hole conductor or a competing hole conduction channel depending on the HOMO level positions relative to that of SFBTD. Some of the ternary OPV devices out-performed the corresponding binary counterparts employing SFBTD or PTVs alone, suggesting cooperative effects in the ternary systems.

χ-Shaped bis(areno)-1,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrroles generated by oxidative aromatic coupling

A synthesis of dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrroles fused with two peripheral arenes or heterocyclic units has been realized through the concise route. These nearly planar compounds were prepared starting from assembling the central core via condensation of 2-aryl or 2-heteroarylbenzaldehydes with aromatic amines and diacetyl, followed by double intramolecular oxidative aromatic coupling. This two-step procedure afforded the desired products in overall yields of 5-36%, and it tolerates structural diversity of starting materials. All the final dyes exhibit strong blue fluorescence in solution.

Vertically-expanded imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine via dehydrogenative coupling

The intramolecular dehydrogenative coupling mediated by potassium constitutes the general methodology leading to weakly emitting π-expanded heterocycles.

Antiaromatic bisindeno-[n]thienoacenes with small singlet biradical characters: syntheses, structures and chain length dependent physical properties

Antiaromatic bisindeno-[n]thienoacenes with small biradical character were synthesized and showed chain length dependent ground states and physical properties.