The impact of vertical π-extension on redox mechanisms of aromatic diimide dyes

Aromatic diimide dyes are an attractive class of redox-active organic molecules for lithium-ion batteries, whose battery performances (stabilities, conductivities and cyclicities) are strongly dependent on the sizes of their π-systems. However, due to the different Clar’s structures possessed, three vertically π-extended aromatic diimides, namely, naphthalene diimide (two one-electron reductions), perylene diimide and terrylene diimide (two one-electron reductions), exhibit different electronic redox mechanisms when served as cathode materials in organic lithium-ion batteries. Herein, we have studied carefully the different electrochemical characteristics of the three aromatic diimides through experimental and theoretical calculations. Their battery present different shape of charge/discharge curves resulting from stability of their reduction state during charge/discharge process. Terrylene diimide shows better cycle and rate capacities than those of naphthalene diimide and perylene diimide, which could be attributed to the more energies released during terrylene diimide combining with lithium ions than those of other two diimides.     

Synthesis and self‐organization properties of copolyurethanes based on perylenediimide and naphthalenediimide units

A series of perylene and naphthalene diimide‐containing random copolyurethanes with different ratios of perylene/naphthalene diimide content was synthesized and characterized. Copolymerization improved the solubility of these rigid aromatic diimides, and the copolymers were soluble in common organic solvents like chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, and so forth. The absorption spectra of perylene‐based copolymers showed a red‐shifted peak at a wavelength of 557 nm corresponding to J‐type aggregates. For naphthalene copolymers, the quenching of fluorescence at higher naphthalene incorporation suggested the presence of aggregates because of the extensive π‐π stacking of the aromatic core. FTIR spectroscopic analysis showed that the hydrogen bonding tendency of the polymer decreased with increase in perylene/naphthalene incorporation. The fluorescence spectra of the perylene polymers were exactly a mirror image of the absorption spectra. The fluorescence spectra of the naphthalene polymers at higher naphthalene incorporation showed a red‐shifted excimer like emission peak, which was assigned as static excimers based on their excitation spectra. These polymers could exhibit two types of secondary interaction modes, namely, hydrogen bonding (via urethane linkage) and π‐stacking (via aromatic perylene or naphthalene units) thus highlighting the importance of polymer design in inducing self‐organization at both low and high incorporation of the rigid bisimide moieties. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1224–1235, 2009     

Crystal Growth and Characterization of Fluorinated Perylene Diimides

One-dimensional crystals of fluorinated perylene diimides were achieved by the self-assembly of them via solvent-nonsolvent exchanging.The π-conjugated fluorinated perylene diimides were assembled into highly-ordered nanostructures of well-defined morphologies in organic solvents due to the π-π interaction between the aromatic cores.It was found that with more introduced F atoms,perylene diimides showed remarkably improved solubility and thus were much easier to grow into crystals,due to the increased polarity induced by the strong electron-withdrawing F group.More importantly,single crystal of N,N＇-diperfluorophenyl-3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic diimide（DPFPP）was obtained,and the unit cell-dimensions of triclinic structure were determined by the selected area electron diffraction（SAED） pattems to be a=0.712 nm,b=1.072 nm,c=2.914 nm,a=97.0°,β=89.6°,γ=93.4°.Owing to most of the longest c-axis orienting nearly vertically to the long axis of the needle crystal,the molecular planes are expected to be vertical to the needle axis.     

Isomeric anthracene diimide polymers

N-type semiconducting polymers are attractive for organic electronics, but desirable electron-deficient units for synthesizing such polymers are still lacking. As a cousin of rylene diimides such as naphthalene diimide (NDI) and perylene diimide (PDI), anthracene diimide (ADI) is a promising candidate; its polymers, however, have not been achieved yet because of synthetic challenges for its polymerizable monomers. Herein, we present ingenious synthesis of two dibromide ADI monomers with dibromination at differently symmetrical positions of the ADI core, which are further employed to construct ADI polymers. More interestingly, the two obtained ADI polymers possess the same main-chain and alkyl-chain structures but different backbone conformations owing to varied linking positions between repeating units. This feature enables their different optoelectronic properties and film-state packing behavior. The ADI polymers offer first examples of conjugated polymer conformational isomers and are highly promising as a new class of n-type semiconductors for various organic electronics applications.

Two anthracene diimide (ADI) polymers with the backbone conformational isomerism, new members of aromatic diimide polymers family, have been synthesized as a class of highly promising n-type semiconductors for organic electronics.     

Curved Perylene Diimides Fused with Seven-Membered Rings

Curved perylene diimides fused with seven-membered rings have been synthesized using a regioselective bay-functionalization method and Pd-catalyzed intramolecular C−H/C−Br coupling reaction. X-Ray analysis and temperature-dependent NMR spectroscopy revealed the curved molecular structure with a certain degree of conformational flexibility. The curved and expanded π-conjugation altered the electronic properties while retaining the intrinsic properties of the parent perylene diimide. Despite the absence of solubilizing N-substituents, the curved perylene diimides showed sufficient solubility for application in solution-processed organic photovoltaic devices. The devices showed superior performance with a power conversion efficiency of up to 2.76% due to suppressed charge recombination. Our detailed investigations suggest that the introduction of a curved structure enables the removal of the bulky N-substituents, which is an effective way to achieve a thin-film morphology suitable for photoelectric conversion.     

Stringing the Perylene Diimide Bow

This study explores a new mode of contortion in perylene diimides where the molecule is bent, like a bow, along its long axis. These bowed PDIs were synthesized through a facile fourfold Suzuki macrocyclization with aromatic linkers and a tetraborylated perylene diimide that introduces strain and results in a bowed structure. By altering the strings of the bow, the degree of bending can be controlled from flat to highly bent. Through spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations, it is demonstrated that the energy of the lowest unoccupied orbital can be controlled by the degree of bending in the structures and that the energy of the highest occupied orbital can be controlled to a large extent by the constitution of the aromatic linkers. The important finding is that the bowing results not only in red‐shifted absorptions but also more facile reductions.     

Photochemistry of naphthalene diimides: EPR study of free radical formation via photoredox process

Earlier studies have shown that on exposure to UVA, hydroperoxynaphthalene diimide (IA) generates hydroxyl radicals, induces DNA strand scission, and kills cells.Here we employed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and spin trapping to investigate the free radical photochemistry of IA and that of related naphthalene diimides, which are devoid of the hydroperoxyl moiety (N,N'-bis[2-methyl]-1,4,5,8-naphthaldiimide [IB], N,N'-bis[2-thiomethyl-2-methoxyethyl]-1,4,5,8-naphthaldiimide [IC]) and therefore are unable to generate hydroxyl radicals. It is shown that on UV irradiation (>300 nm) in air-free methanol or ethanol solutions all these naphthalene diimides undergo one-electron reduction to corresponding anion radicals, positively identified by EPR. With EPR and a spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), we found that the photogeneration of the naphthalene diimide radicals is concomitant with the formation of radicals from the solvents, presumably through electron/hydrogen atom abstraction by photoactivated diimides. Irradiation of IA, IB or IC in the presence of oxygen generates superoxide, which was detected as a DMPO adduct. The high photoreactivity of IB and IC supports the notion that hydroperoxide IA can induce oxidative damage via photoprocesses that are independent of *OH generation. These observations could be pertinent to the application of naphthalene diimides as selective photonucleases, PDT anticancer agents or both.     

New Soluble Near‐Infrared Dyes Based on Terrylene Diimides with Four Aromatic Heterocycles

Terrylene diimides with four aromatic heterocycles (AHTDIs) were synthesized under Stille Cross‐coupling conditions and fully characterized by NMR and mass spectrometry. The aggregation of the terrylene diimide (TDI) was suppressed by four heterocycles substituents on the bay region, and these AHTDIs exhibited good solubility in common organic solvents. The effects of the substituted groups on the optical and electrochemical properties were also investigated. The introduction of four aromatic heterocycles on the bay of TDI resulted in significant red‐shifts of the absorption peak (100 nm), corresponding to a decrease in the band gap from 1.82 to 1.50 eV. Furthermore, with four rich electron aromatic heterocycles, the AHTDIs showed 280 mV negative‐shifts of first oxidation potentials and a new oxidation wave, corresponding to an increase in the HOMO levels from??5.60 to??5.28 eV.     

Energy Transfer at the Single‐Molecule Level: Synthesis of a Donor–Acceptor Dyad from Perylene and Terrylene Diimides

In 2004, we reported single‐pair fluorescence resonance energy transfer (spFRET), based on a perylene diimide (PDI) and terrylene diimide (TDI) dyad ( 1 ) that was bridged by a rigid substituted para‐terphenyl spacer. Since then, several further single‐molecule‐level investigations on this specific compound have been performed. Herein, we focus on the synthesis of this dyad and the different approaches that can be employed. An optimized reaction pathway was chosen, considering the solubilities, reactivities, and accessibilities of the building blocks for each individual reaction whilst still using established synthetic techniques, including imidization, Suzuki coupling, and cyclization reactions. The key differentiating consideration in this approach to the synthesis of dyad 1 is the introduction of functional groups in a nonsymmetrical manner onto either the perylene diimide or the terrylene diimide by using imidization reactions. Combined with well‐defined purification conditions, this modified approach allows dyad 1 to be obtained in reasonable quantities in good yield.     

Angular-shaped naphthalene tetracarboxylic diimides for n-channel organic transistor semiconductors

A series of compounds based on the angular-shaped naphthalene tetracarboxylic diimide core have been synthesized, characterized and used as active layers of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). The fabricated OFET devices exhibit n-type semiconducting characteristics, demonstrating the first examples of semiconductors based on angular-shaped naphthalene tetracarboxylic diimides.     

Redox modulation of benzene triimides and diimides via noncovalent interactions

[reaction: see text] Mellitic triimides undergo three sequential one-electron reduction processes whose potentials are significantly lowered in the presence of alkyl thioureas. The two sequential reductions of benzene diimides are similarly stabilized. Calculation of the relative free energy change between the different electronic states of the imide acceptors and their corresponding alkyl thiourea complexes indicates dramatic increases in hydrogen bond strength with increasing acceptor charge density.     

氟代位置对苝酰亚胺聚集态结构和电子传输性能的影响

合成了三种新型的有机电子受体: N,N'-二(2-氟代苯基)-3,4,9,10-苝四羧基二酰亚胺(D2MFPP)、N,N'-二(3-氟代苯基)-3,4,9,10-苝四羧基二酰亚胺(D3MFPP)和N,N'-二(4-氟代苯基)-3,4,9,10-苝四羧基二酰亚胺(D4MFPP). 利用元素分析、傅立叶变换红外(FTIR)等方法表征了它们的分子结构, 用紫外-可见光吸收光谱(UV-Vis)、X射线衍射(XRD)和原子力显微镜(AFM)等手段研究了氟代位置对苝酰亚胺薄膜聚集态结构的影响, 发现氟代使苝酰亚胺的聚集态发生变化, 且不同位置的氟代对其影响也不一样. 除了分子结构的影响, 外场条件也会产生很大的作用. 通过制备场效应晶体管研究了其电子传输性能, 发现氟代后器件的空气稳定性有明显提高.     

Core-extended terrylene diimide on the bay region: synthesis and optical and electrochemical properties

Two novel core-extended terrylene diimides on the bay region (CETDIs) were synthesized via annulation of the four additional ethylene units or benzene units on the bay region of the terrylene diimide core. The optical and electrochemical properties of the two compounds were investigated. These CETDIs exhibited broad absorption spectra with high extinction coefficients, which span a wide range in the ultraviolet and visible spectrum from 300 to 700 nm. Furthermore, the redox process of the CETDIs increased from two waves to four waves, and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels were enhanced from -4.00 to -3.59 eV.     

The Photostability of Two Optical Materials Based on Perylene Diimide Substituted by Different Aromatic Groups at the Bay Area

The perylene diimide substituented by thiophene rings at bay area shows photoactivity and can be used as a photo sensor, but another one substituented by mestylene groups is photostable. The single crystal of 1,7‐mesitylene perylene diimide was obtained. X‐ray diffraction data of the crystal revealed that the plane of the perylene core was hardly twisted by introduction of mesitylene groups. These mestylene groups are like clips maintaining the planarity of the perylene core. Density functional theory calculation was applied to study the difference of photophysical and photochemical properties. The discovery is valuable for design guidance of perylene diimides.     

One-Pot Domino Carbonylation Protocol for Aromatic Diimides toward n-Type Organic Semiconductors

Aromatic diimides are one of the most important chromophores in the construction of n-type organic semiconductors, which lag far behind their p-type counterpart but are necessary for ambipolar transistors, p-n junctions and organic complementary circuits. Herein, we establish a facile one-pot domino synthetic protocol for aromatic diimides via palladium-catalyzed carbonylation of tetrabromo aromatic precursors. Taking tetrabromocorannulene (TBrCor) and tetrabromo-2,7-di-tert-butylpyrene (TBrPy) as the typical examples, we obtained diimide derivatives in yields of about 50 %, one order of magnitude higher than that of the traditional multi-step diimidization. As demonstrated in the case of corannulene diimide, the efficient diimidization not only allows the LUMO levels to be lowered significantly but also provides an ordered and closer packing structures, opening up possibilities to the development of n-type semiconducting materials based on a variety of aromatic systems.     

Strategies for the Synthesis of Functional Naphthalene Diimides

Naphthalene diimides, which have for a long time been in the shadow of their higher homologues the perylene diimides, currently belong to the most investigated classes of organic compounds. This is primarily due to the initial synthetic studies on core functionalization that were carried out at the beginning of the last decade, which facilitated diverse structural modifications of the naphthalene scaffold. Compounds with greatly modified optical and electronic properties that can be easily and effectively modulated by appropriate functionalization were made accessible through relatively little synthetic effort. This resulted in diverse interesting applications. The electron‐deficient character of these compounds makes them highly valuable, particularly in the field of organic electronics as air‐stable n‐type semiconductors, while absorption bands over the whole visible spectral range through the introduction of core substituents enabled interesting photosystems and photovoltaic applications. This Review provides an overview on different approaches towards core functionalization as well as on synthetic strategies for the core expansion of naphthalene diimides that have been developed mainly in the last five years.     

One‐Pot Domino Carbonylation Protocol for Aromatic Diimides toward n‐Type Organic Semiconductors

Aromatic diimides are one of the most important chromophores in the construction of n‐type organic semiconductors, which lag far behind their p‐type counterpart but are necessary for ambipolar transistors, p‐n junctions and organic complementary circuits. Herein, we establish a facile one‐pot domino synthetic protocol for aromatic diimides via palladium‐catalyzed carbonylation of tetrabromo aromatic precursors. Taking tetrabromocorannulene (TBrCor) and tetrabromo‐2,7‐di‐tert‐butylpyrene (TBrPy) as the typical examples, we obtained diimide derivatives in yields of about 50 %, one order of magnitude higher than that of the traditional multi‐step diimidization. As demonstrated in the case of corannulene diimide, the efficient diimidization not only allows the LUMO levels to be lowered significantly but also provides an ordered and closer packing structures, opening up possibilities to the development of n‐type semiconducting materials based on a variety of aromatic systems.     

1,1'-Binaphthol annulated perylene diimides: Aggregation-induced emission enhancement and chirality inversion

Aggregation-induced emission enhancement and aggregation-induced chirality inversion are two individual phenomena for the enantiomerically pure organic dyes in the aggregates. Herein we reported for the first time that these two interesting phenomena could be observed simultaneously in the aggregated states of enantiomerically pure S/R-1,1’-binaphthol annulated perylene diimides, in which two perylene diimides moieties were bridged by S/R-1,1’-binaphthol(BINOL) at the bay positions. Owing to the...     

High performance n-type single crystalline transistors of naphthalene bis(dicarboximide) and their anisotropic transport in crystals

High-performance n-type organic single crystal transistors of a naphthalene diimide are demonstrated. The accomplished transistors exhibit electron mobility as high as 0.7 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). The anisotropic charge transport in the elongated hexagonal crystals of the naphthalene diimide is also explored. The transport anisotropy along different directions is at least 1.6 (mobility ratio).     

受体型有机光伏材料苝二酰亚胺*

苝二酰亚胺作为一种典型的n型材料,具有可见光区强吸收、光和热稳定性较高等突出优点,近年来应用到有机光伏达电池中。本文介绍了苝二酰亚胺及其各种衍生物的结构和性质,综述了其用作有机光伏受体材料（包括小分子型苝二酰亚胺材料、含苝二酰亚胺受体单元的给体-受体双功能分子和含苝二酰亚胺受体单元的给体-受体双缆型聚合物材料）的最新研究进展。