Synthesis and photophysical properties of 2,5,8,11‐tetrakis(5‐hexylthiophen‐2‐yl)tetrathieno[2,3‐a:3′,2′‐c:2′′,3′′‐f:3′′′,2′′′‐h]naphthalene

The title compound, C₅₈H₆₄S₈, has been prepared by Pd‐catalysed direct C—H arylation of tetrathienonaphthalene (TTN) with 5‐hexyl‐2‐iodothiophene and recrystallized by slow evaporation from dichloromethane. The crystal structure shows a completely planar geometry of the TTN core, crystallizing in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c. The structure consists of slipped π‐stacks and the interfacial distance between the mean planes of the TTN cores is 3.456 (5) Å, which is slightly larger than that of the comparable derivative of tetrathienoanthracene (TTA) with 2‐hexylthiophene groups. The packing in the two structures is greatly influenced by both the aromatic core of the structure and the alkyl side chains.