Harvesting electrons and holes from photodriven symmetry-breaking charge separation within a perylenediimide photosynthetic model dimer

Understanding how to utilize symmetry-breaking charge separation (SB-CS) offers a path toward increasingly efficient light-harvesting technologies. This process plays a central role in the first step of photosynthesis, in which the dimeric "special pair" of the photosynthetic reaction center enters a coherent SB-CS state after photoexcitation. Previous research on SB-CS in both biological and synthetic chromophore dimers has focused on increasing the efficiency of light-driven processes. In a chromophore dimer undergoing SB-CS, the energy of the radical ion pair product is nearly isoenergetic with that of the lowest excited singlet (S1) state of the dimer. This means that very little energy is lost from the absorbed photon. In principle, the relatively high energy electron and hole generated by SB-CS within the chromophore dimer can each be transferred to adjacent charge acceptors to extend the lifetime of the electron-hole pair, which can increase the efficiency of solar energy conversion. To investigate this possibility, we have designed a bis-perylenediimide cyclophane (mPDI2) covalently linked to a secondary electron donor, peri-xanthenoxanthene (PXX) and a secondary electron acceptor, partially fluorinated naphthalenediimide (FNDI). Upon selective photoexcitation of mPDI2, transient absorption spectroscopy shows that mPDI2 undergoes SB-CS, followed by two secondary charge transfer reactions to generate a PXX•+-mPDI2-FNDI•- radical ion pair having a nearly 3 µs lifetime. This strategy has the potential to increase the efficiency of molecular systems for artificial photosynthesis and photovoltaics.

Synthesis and C-H Functionalization Chemistry of Thiazole-Semicoronenediimides (TsCDIs) and -Coronenediimides (TCDIs)

Coronenediimide (CDI) derivatives have a planar structure, a reasonably high electron affinity, and a rigid and extended delocalized π-system. Therefore, this core and variants thereof may be promising building blocks for the synthesis of electron transport materials. Herein, we have synthesized thiazole-semicoronenediimides (TsCDIs) and -coronenediimides (TCDIs) by a two-step process from a perylenediimide (PDI) precursor. Conditions for C-H arylation and heteroarylation of the thiazole moiety of this core were developed and were successfully used for the synthesis of dimer, triad, and polymeric materials. The optical and electrochemical properties of these materials and their monomers were examined as a function of side-chain modification and π-extension. With their broad optical absorption and low reduction potentials, these materials could be candidates as organic semiconductors for applications in OFETs and as nonfullerene acceptors.

Expanding the Scope of Electron-Deficient C-H Building Blocks: Direct Arylation of Pyromellitic Acid Diimide

Direct C-H activation of pyromellitic diimide (PMDI) is reported for the first time. The method avoids cumbersome pathways involving bromination usually required for further cross-coupling. Good to excellent yields of mono- and di-substituted PMDI derivatives can be obtained under optimized reaction conditions. The reaction scope was also explored, and the materials were characterized with respect to their thermal, optical, and electronic properties.