Synthesis and Structure–Property Relationships of Phosphole‐Based π Systems and Their Applications in Organic Solar Cells

Phosphole is a chemically tunable heterole, and its π‐conjugated derivatives are potential candidates for optoelectronic materials. This account describes recent developments in the synthesis and structure–property relationships of π‐conjugated phosphole derivatives made by my research group. Thiophene–phosphole–styrene, phosphole–acetylene–arene, oligophosphole, polyphosphole, arenoc]phosphole, and phosphole–heterole π systems are synthesized using titanacycle‐mediated metathesis and palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions. The structural, optical, and electrochemical properties of selected compounds are discussed. Initial results on some applications of thiophene–phosphole copolymers, acenaphthoc]phospholes, and amine–terthiophene–phosphole donor–π–acceptor dyes in organic solar cells are described. These results give valuable information and guidelines for designing new phosphorus‐containing organic materials for molecular electronics.