Synthesis of low band gap [1,2,5]-thiadiazolo[3,4-g]quinoxaline and pyrazino[2,3-g]quinoxaline derivatives by selective reduction of benzo[1,2-c;4,5-c']bis[1,2,5]thiadiazole

The reduction of a dithienylbenzobisthiadiazole derivative TBBT can be performed selectively so as to afford either [1,2,5]-thiadiazolo[3,4-g]quinoxaline (TQ) or pyrazino[2,3-g]quinoxaline (PQ) derivatives. This approach offers a much milder, shorter, and more efficient route to PQ and TQ derivatives than current methods. It is further shown how the optical and electrochemical properties of PQ and TQ can be tuned by choice of appropriate substituents.