Ultrasensitive SERS Detection of TNT by Imprinting Molecular Recognition Using a New Type of Stable Substrate

We report herein a method for the ultra‐trace detection of TNT on p‐aminothiophenol‐functionalized silver nanoparticles coated on silver molybdate nanowires based on surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The method relies on π‐donor–acceptor interactions between the π‐acceptor TNT and the π‐donor p,p′‐dimercaptoazobenzene (DMAB), with the latter serving to cross‐link the silver nanoparticles deposited on the silver molybdate nanowires. This system presents optimal imprint molecule contours, with the DMAB forming imprint molecule sites that constitute SERS “hot spots”. Anchoring of the TNT analyte at these sites leads to a pronounced intensification of its Raman emission. We demonstrate that TNT concentrations as low as 10^?12 M can be accurately detected using the described SERS assay. Most impressively, acting as a new type of SERS substrate, the silver/silver molybdate nanowires complex can yield new silver nanoparticles during the detection process, which makes the Raman signals very stable. A detailed mechanism for the observed SERS intensity change is discussed. Our experiments show that TNT can be detected quickly and accurately with ultra‐high sensitivity, selectivity, reusability, and stability. The results reported herein may not only lead to many applications in SERS techniques, but might also form the basis of a new concept for a molecular imprinting strategy.     

Induced‐Fit Binding of π‐Electron‐Donor Substrates to Macrocyclic Aromatic Ether Imide Sulfones: A Versatile Approach to Molecular Assembly

Novel macrocyclic receptors that bind electron‐donor aromatic substrates through π‐stacking donor–acceptor interactions are obtained by cycloimidisation of an amine‐functionalised aryl ether sulfone with pyromellitic and 1,4,5,8‐naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydrides. These macrocycles can form complexes with a wide variety of π‐donor substrates, including tetrathiafulvalene, naphthalene, anthracene, pyrene, perylene and functional derivatives of these polycyclic hydrocarbons. The resulting supramolecular assemblies range from simple 1:1 complexes to [2]‐ and [3]pseudorotaxanes and even (as a result of crystallographic disorder) an apparent polyrotaxane. Direct five‐component self‐assembly of a metal‐centred [3]pseudorotaxane is also observed on complexation of a macrocyclic ether imide with 8‐hydroxyquinoline in the presence of palladium(II) ions. Binding studies in solution were carried out by using ¹H NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, and the stoichiometries of binding were confirmed by Job plots based on the charge‐transfer absorption bands. The highest association constants were found for strong π‐donor guests with large surface areas, notably perylene and 1‐hydroxypyrene, for which K_a values of 1.4×10³ and 2.3×10³ M ^?1, respectively, were found. Single‐crystal X‐ray analyses of the receptors and their derived complexes reveal large induced‐fit distortions of the macrocyclic frameworks as a result of complexation. These structures provide compelling evidence for the existence of strong attractive forces between the electronically complementary aromatic π systems of host and guest.     

Near‐Infrared Quadrupolar Chromophores Combining Three‐Coordinate Boron‐Based Superdonor and Superacceptor Units

Herein, two new quadrupolar acceptor‐π‐donor‐π‐acceptor (A‐π‐D‐π‐A) chromophores have been prepared featuring a strongly electron‐donating diborene core and strongly electron‐accepting dimesitylboryl (BMes₂) and bis(2,4,6‐tris(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)boryl (B^FMes₂) end groups. Analysis of the compounds by NMR spectroscopy, X‐ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, and UV/Vis‐NIR absorption and emission spectroscopy indicated that the compounds have extended conjugated π‐systems spanning their B₄C₈ cores. The combination of exceptionally potent π‐donor (diborene) and π‐acceptor (diarylboryl) groups, both based on trigonal boron, leads to very small HOMO–LUMO gaps, resulting in strong absorption in the near‐IR region with maxima in THF at 840 and 1092 nm and very high extinction coefficients of ca. 120 000 m ^?1 cm^?1. Both molecules also display weak near‐IR fluorescence with small Stokes shifts.     

2,3,4,5‐Tetrakis­[(2‐hydroxy­ethyl)­thio]­tetra­thia­fulvalene tetra­fluoro­borate

The title complex, C₁₄H₂₀O₄S₈^+.BF₄^?, is a charge‐transfer complex with typical charges for the donor and anion of +1 and ?1, respectively. Two centrosymmetrically related donors form a face‐to‐face π‐dimer with a strong intermolecular S?S interaction. These π‐dimers stack along the a axis to form a donor column. The structure is extensively hydrogen bonded.     

Conjugated polymers for the fluorescent detection of nitroaromatics: Influence of side‐chain sterics and π‐system electronics

A series of eight poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and poly(p‐phenylene ethynylene) (PPE) ( P1–P8 ) derivatives were tested for their ability to detect the nitroaromatic explosive 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT) and its model compound 2,6‐dinitrotoluene (DNT). The polymers P1–P8 represent five structural classes that have not been examined for nitroaromatic sensing. These new motifs include PPE derivatives with a main‐chain m‐terphenyl unit ( P1 ) or oxacyclophane canopy‐like structure ( P2 ) and PPV derivatives with 2,6‐mesitylenephenylene repeats ( P3 and P4 ), 9,9‐dialkyl‐1,4‐fluorenylene repeats ( P5 and P6 ), or m‐phenylene units that periodically disrupt π‐conjugation along the backbone of the polymer ( P7 and P8 ). The time‐dependent photoluminescent response of films to TNT and DNT and the solution‐phase Stern‐Volmer quenching constants for both TNT and DNT were determined. The results are rationalized in terms of side‐chain sterics and π‐system electronics and are discussed relative to known conjugated polymers. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1487–1492     

Synthesis and characterization of copolymers based on cyclopenta[c]thiophene and bithiazole and their transistor properties

Two new copolymers, P1 and P2 , containing 5,5‐bis(dodecyloxymethyl)?5,6‐dihydro‐4H‐cyclopenta[c]thiophene (DCPT) or DCPT‐based thiophene trimer (as donor) and 4,4′‐dibutyl‐2,2′‐bithiazole (BTz, as weak acceptor) have been synthesized. To reduce the steric hindrance and enhance the conjugation, the thiophene spacers have been incorporated between DCPT and BTz in P2 , which play an important role in maintaining the side chain ordering and π‐stacking interactions. Both the polymers showed π‐stacking with similar distances (～0.37 nm) but with larger extent in P2 . Combination of DCPT with BTz has resulted in low lying HOMO levels for the resulting polymers with significant improvement in oxidative stability. P1 and P2 showed p‐type mobility of 0.03 and 0.052 cm² V^?1 s^?1 with current on/off ratio (I_on/I_off) in the order of 10⁴ and 10³, respectively. These differences in characteristics may be attributed to the variation in donor (D)–acceptor (A) property, supramolecular ordering, extent of π‐stacking, and film microstructure. The polymers were further characterized by GPC, TGA, DSC, PXRD, cyclic voltammetry, and atomic force microscopy. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 4481–4488     

Head‐to‐Tail Zig‐Zag Packing of Dipolar Merocyanine Dyes Affords High‐Performance Organic Thin‐Film Transistors

Attachment of bulky substituents at both thiophene donor (D) and thiazole acceptor (A) heterocycles of a dipolar (μ_g=10.4 D) D‐π‐A merocyanine dye affords a more than 1 Å expansion of the common antiparallel supramolecular dimer motif in the solid state, enabling very close π‐contacts (3.36 Å) to two other neighbor molecules on each of the two remaining π‐faces. This unusual packing motif leads to three‐dimensional percolation pathways for hole transport and affords thin‐film transistors with mobility up to 0.64 cm² V^?1 s^?1.     

Observation of Main‐Group Tricarbonyls [B(CO)3] and [C(CO)3]+ Featuring a Tilted One‐Electron Donor Carbonyl Ligand

A combined experimental and theoretical study on the main‐group tricarbonyls [B(CO)₃] in solid noble‐gas matrices and [C(CO)₃]⁺ in the gas phase is presented. The molecules are identified by comparing the experimental and theoretical IR spectra and the vibrational shifts of nuclear isotopes. Quantum chemical ab initio studies suggest that the two isoelectronic species possess a tilted η¹(μ₁‐CO)‐bonded carbonyl ligand, which serves as an unprecedented one‐electron donor ligand. Thus, the central atoms in both complexes still retain an 8‐electron configuration. A thorough analysis of the bonding situation gives quantitative information about the donor and acceptor properties of the different carbonyl ligands. The linearly bonded CO ligands are classical two‐electron donors that display classical σ‐donation and π‐back‐donation following the Dewar–Chatt–Duncanson model. The tilted CO ligand is a formal one‐electron donor that is bonded by σ‐donation and π‐back‐donation that involves the singly occupied orbital of the radical fragments [B(CO)₂] and [C(CO)₂]⁺.     

Concurrent Stabilization of π‐Donor and π‐Acceptor Ligands in Aromatized and Dearomatized Pincer [(PNN)Re(CO)(O)2] Complexes

Aromatized cationic [(PNN)Re(π acid)(O)₂]⁺ ( 1 ) and dearomatized neutral [(PNN*)Re(π acid)(O)₂] ( 2 ) complexes (where π acid=CO ( a ), tBuNC ( b ), or (2,6‐Me₂)PhNC ( c )), possessing both π‐donor and π‐acceptor ligands, have been synthesized and fully characterized. Reaction of [(PNN)Re(O)₂]⁺ ( 4 ) with lithiumhexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS) yield the dearomatized [(PNN*)Re(O)₂] ( 3 ). Complexes 1 and 2 are prepared from the reaction of 4 and 3 , respectively, with CO or isocyanides. Single‐crystal X‐ray structures of 1 a and 1 b show the expected trans‐dioxo structure, in which the oxo ligands occupy the axial positions and the π‐acidic ligand occupies the equatorial plane in an overall octahedral geometry about the rhenium(V) center. DFT studies revealed the stability of complexes 1 and 2 arises from a π‐backbonding interaction between the d_xy orbital of rhenium, the π orbital of the oxo ligands, and the π* orbital of CO/isocyanide.     

Versatile Self‐Complexing Compounds Based on Covalently Linked Donor–Acceptor Cyclophanes

A range of covalently linked donor–acceptor compounds which contain 1) a hydroquinone (HQ) unit, 2) a 1,5‐dioxynaphthalene (DNP) ring system, or 3) a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) unit as the π‐donor, and 4) cyclobis(paraquat‐p‐phenylene) (CBPQT⁴⁺) as the π‐accepting tetracationic cyclophane were prepared and shown to operate as simple molecular machines. The π‐donating arms can be included inside the cyclophane in an intramolecular fashion by virtue of stabilizing noncovalent bonding interactions. What amounts to self‐complexing/decomplexing equilibria were shown to be highly temperature dependent when the π‐donating arm contains either an HQ or DNP moiety. The thermodynamic parameters associated with the equilibria have been unraveled by using variable‐temperature ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The negative ΔH° and ΔS° values account for the fact that the “uncomplexed” conformation becomes the dominant species, since the entropy gain associated with the decomplexation process overcomes the enthalpy loss resulting from the breaking of the donor–acceptor interactions. The arm's in‐and‐out movements with respect to the linked cyclophanes can be arrested by installing a bulky substituent at the end of the arm. In the case of compounds carrying a DNP ring system in their side arm, two diastereoisomeric, self‐complexing conformations are observed below 272 K in hexadeuterioacetone. By contrast, control over the TTF‐containing arm's movement is more or less ineffective through the thermally sensitive equilibrium although it can be realized by chemical and electrochemical ways as a result of TTF's excellent redox properties. Such self‐complexing compounds could find applications as thermo‐ and electroswitches. In addition, the thermochromism associated with the arm's movement could lead to some of the compounds finding uses as imaging and sensing materials.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Donor–π‐Acceptor‐Based Porphyrin Sensitizers: Potential Application of Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

New porphyrin sensitizers based on donor–π‐acceptor (D‐π‐A) approach have been designed, synthesized, characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and their photovoltaic properties explored. N,N′‐Diphenylamine acts as donor, the porphyrin is the π‐spacer, and either carboxylic acid or cyanoacryclic acid acts as acceptor. All compounds were characterized by using ¹H NMR spectroscopy, ESI‐MS, UV–visible emission spectroscopies as well as electrochemical methods. The presence of aromatic groups between porphyrin π‐plane and acceptor group push the absorption of both Soret and Q‐bands of porphyrin towards the red region. The electrochemical properties suggests that LUMO of these sensitizers above the TiO₂ conduction band. Finally, the device was fabricated using liquid redox electrolyte (I^?/I₃^?) and its efficiency was compared with that of a leading sensitizer.     

Tailoring Excited State Properties and Energy Levels Arrangement via Subtle Structural Design on D‐π‐A Materials

The donor‐π‐conjugated‐acceptor (D‐π‐A) structure is an important design for the luminescent materials because of its diversity in the selections of donor, π‐bridge and acceptor groups. Herein, we demonstrate two examples of D‐π‐A structures capable to finely modulate the excited state properties and arrangement of energy levels, TPA‐AN‐BP and CZP‐AN‐BP , which possess the same acceptor and π‐bridge but different donor. The investigation of their photophysical properties and DFT calculation revealed that the D‐π‐A structure with proper donor, π‐bridge and acceptor can result in separation of frontier molecular orbitals on the corresponding donor and acceptor with an obvious overlap on the π‐bridge, resulting in a hybridized local and charge‐transfer (HLCT ) excited state with high photoluminescent (PL ) efficiencies. Meanwhile, their singlet and triplet states are arranged on corresponding moieties with large energy gap between T₂ and T₁ , and a small energy gap between S₁ and T₂ , which favor the reverse intersystem crossing (RISC ) from high‐lying triplet levels to singlet levels. As a result, the sky‐blue emission non‐doped OLED based on the TPA‐AN‐BP reached maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE ) of 4.39% and a high exciton utilization efficiency (EUE ) of 77%. This study demonstrates a new strategy to construct highly efficient OLED materials.     

Strong Enhancement of π‐Electron Donor/Acceptor Ability by Complementary DD/AA Hydrogen Bonding

π‐Conjugated organic materials possess a wide range of tunable optoelectronic properties which are dictated by their molecular structure and supramolecular arrangement. While many efforts have been put into tuning the molecular structure to achieve the desired properties, rational supramolecular control remains a challenge. Here, we report a novel series of supramolecular materials formed by the co‐assembly of weak π‐electron donor (indolo[2,3‐a]carbazole) and acceptor (aromatic o‐quinones) molecules via complementary hydrogen bonding. The resulting polarization creates a drastic perturbation of the molecular energy levels, causing strong charge transfer in the weak donor–acceptor pairs. This leads to a significant lowering (up to 1.5 eV) of the band gaps, intense absorption in the near‐IR region, very short π‐stacking distances (≥3.15 Å), and strong ESR signals in the co‐crystals. By varying the strength of the acceptor, the characteristics of the complexes can be tuned between intrinsic, gate‐, or light‐induced semiconductivity with a p‐type or ambipolar transport mechanism.     

Modular Synthesis and Dynamics of a Variety of Donor–Acceptor Interlocked Compounds Prepared by Click Chemistry

A series of donor–acceptor [2]‐, [3]‐, and [4]rotaxanes and self‐complexes ([1]rotaxanes) have been synthesized by a threading‐followed‐by‐stoppering approach, in which the precursor pseudorotaxanes are fixed by using Cu^I‐catalyzed Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition to attach the required stoppers. This alternative approach to forming rotaxanes of the donor–acceptor type, in which the donor is a 1,5‐dioxynaphthalene unit and the acceptor is the tetracationic cyclophane cyclobis(paraquat‐p‐phenylene), proceeds with enhanced yields relative to the tried and tested synthetic strategies, which involve the clipping of the cyclophane around a preformed dumbbell containing π‐electron‐donating recognition sites. The new synthetic approach is amenable to application to highly convergent sequences. To extend the scope of this reaction, we constructed [2]rotaxanes in which one of the phenylene rings of the tetracationic cyclophane is perfluorinated, a feature which significantly weakens its association with π‐electron‐rich guests. The activation barrier for the shuttling of the cyclophane over a spacer containing two triazole rings was determined to be (15.5±0.1) kcal mol^?1 for a degenerate two‐station [2]rotaxane, a value similar to that previously measured for analogous degenerate compounds containing aromatic or ethylene glycol spacers. The triazole rings do not seem to perturb the shuttling process significantly; this property bodes well for their future incorporation into bistable molecular switches.     

Versatile Room‐Temperature‐Phosphorescent Materials Prepared from N‐Substituted Naphthalimides: Emission Enhancement and Chemical Conjugation

Purely organic materials with room‐temperature phosphorescence (RTP) are currently under intense investigation because of their potential applications in sensing, imaging, and displaying. Inspired by certain organometallic systems, where ligand‐localized phosphorescence (³π‐π*) is mediated by ligand‐to‐metal or metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (CT) states, we now show that donor‐to‐acceptor CT states from the same organic molecule can also mediate π‐localized RTP. In the model system of N‐substituted naphthalimides (NNIs), the relatively large energy gap between the NNI‐localized ¹π‐π* and ³π‐π* states of the aromatic ring can be bridged by intramolecular CT states when the NNI is chemically modified with an electron donor. These NNI‐based RTP materials can be easily conjugated to both synthetic and natural macromolecules, which can be used for RTP microscopy.     

Electrochemiluminescence Detection of TNT by Resonance Energy Transfer through the Formation of a TNT–Amine Complex

2,4,6‐Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a widely used nitroaromatic explosive with significant detrimental effects on the environment and human health. Its detection is of great importance. In this study, both electrochemiluminescence (ECL)‐based detection of TNT through the formation of a TNT–amine complex and the detection of TNT through electrochemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (ECRET) are developed for the first time. 3‐Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES)‐modified [Ru(phen)₃]²⁺ (phen=1,10‐phenanthroline)‐doped silica nanoparticles (RuSiNPs) with uniform sizes of (73±3) nm were synthesized. TNT can interact with APTES‐modified RuSiNPs through charge transfer from electron‐rich amines in the RuSiNPs to the electron‐deficient aromatic ring of TNT to form a red TNT–amine complex. The absorption spectrum of this complex overlaps with the ECL spectrum of the APTES‐modified RuSiNPs/triethylamine system. As a result, ECL signals of the APTES‐modified RuSiNPs/triethylamine system are turned off in the presence of TNT owing to resonance energy transfer from electrochemically excited RuSiNPs to the TNT–amine complex. This ECRET method has been successfully applied for the sensitive determination of TNT with a linear range from 1×10^?9 to 1×10^?6 M with a fast response time within 1 min. The limit of detection is 0.3 nM . The method exhibits good selectivity towards 2,4‐dinitrotoluene, p‐nitrotoluene, nitrobenzene, phenol, p‐quinone, 8‐hydroxyquinoline, p‐phenylenediamine, K₃[Fe(CN)₆], Fe³⁺, NO₃^?, NO₂^?, Cr³⁺, Fe²⁺, Pb²⁺, SO₃^2?, formaldehyde, oxalate, proline, and glycine.     

The bonding situation in 1,3,2‐diazaphospholene derivatives as studied by solid‐state NMR spectroscopy

The ³¹P chemical shift (CS) tensors of the 1,3,2‐diazaphospholenium cation 1 and the P‐chloro‐1,3,2‐diazaphospholenes 2 and 3 and the ³¹P and ¹⁹F CS tensors of the P‐fluoro‐1,3,2‐diazaphospholene 4 were characterized by solid‐state ³¹P and ¹⁹F NMR studies and quantum chemical model calculations. The computed orientation of the principal axes system of the ³¹P and ¹⁹F CS tensors in the P‐fluoro compound was found to be in good agreement with experimentally derived values obtained from evaluation of P–F dipolar interactions. A comparison of the trends in the chemical shifts of 1 – 4 with further available literature data confirms that the unique high shielding of δ₁₁ in the cation 1 can be related to the effective π‐conjugation in the five‐membered heterocycle, and that a further systematic decrease in δ₁₁ for the P‐halogen derivatives 2 – 4 is attributable to the increased perturbation of the π‐electron distribution by interaction with the halide donor. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cyclic Zinc(II) Bisporphyrin‐Based Molecular Switches: Supramolecular Control of Complexation‐Mediated Conformational Switching and Photoinduced Electron Transfer

A cyclic zinc(II) bisporphyrin with flexible linker was employed as a dynamic molecular switch under the regulation of π‐acceptors (tetracyanoquinodimethane, trinitrofluorenone, 9‐dicyanomethylenefluorene) and bidentate N‐donor ligands (1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, pyrazine, 4,4′‐bipyridine). The cyclic bisporphyrin host can efficiently encapsulate the π‐acceptor guests through the strong π–π interaction, which can be replaced again by using a bidentate N‐donor ligand, which coordinates strongly with the metal centers. The open conformation of the bisporphyrin can be efficiently recovered by removing the bidentate ligands using Cu⁺ ion. During the process, two porphyrin rings also reversibly change their relative orientation between perpendicular and parallel. The behavior of the cyclic bisporphyrin was followed by using UV/Vis, ¹H NMR, fluorescence, and electrochemical analyses along with X‐ray structure determination of the complexes. Moreover, control of photoinduced electron transfer (PET “ON‐OFF”) is also achieved by the use of guest exchange. Association constants for the host–guest binding were very high, which further explains the robust nature of such assemblies in solution. The experimental evidence is supported by DFT calculations. Such controllable dynamic features can constitute a new step towards "smart" adaptive molecular devices and the emergence of such systems is of significant interest in supramolecular chemistry.     

Organic Dyes with Well‐Defined Structures for Highly Efficient Dye‐Sensitised Solar Cells Based on a Cobalt Electrolyte

Seven SGT organics dyes, containing bis‐dimethylfluoreneyl amino groups with a dialkoxyphenyl unit as an electron donor and a cyanoacrylic acid group as an anchoring group, connected with oligothiophenes, fused thiophenes and benzothiadiazoles as π‐bridges, were designed and synthesised for applications in dye‐sensitised solar cells (DSSCs). The photovoltaic performance of DSSCs based on organic dyes with oligothiophenes depends on the molecular structure of the dyes, in terms of the length change of the π‐bridging units. The best performance was found with a π‐bridge length of about 6 Å. To further enhance the photovoltaic performance associated with this concept, cyclopenta[1,2‐b:5,4‐b′]dithiophene (CPDT) and benzothiadiazole were introduced into the π‐bridge unit. As a result, the DSSC based on the organic dye containing the CPDT moiety showed the best photovoltaic performance with a short‐circuit photocurrent density (J_sc) of 14.1 mA cm^?2, an open‐circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.84 V and a fill factor (FF) of 0.72, corresponding to an overall conversion efficiency (η) of 8.61 % under standard AM 1.5 irradiation.     

Benzodifuran‐containing well‐defined π‐conjugated polymers for photovoltaic cells

Two well‐defined alternating π‐conjugated polymers containing a soluble electroactive benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]difuran (BDF) chromophore, poly(BDF‐(9‐phenylcarbazole)) (PBDFC), and poly(BDF‐benzothiadiazole) (PBDFBTD) were synthesized via Sonogashira copolymerizations. Their optical, electrochemical, and field‐effect charge transport properties were characterized and compared with those of the corresponding homopolymer PBDF and random copolymers of the same overall composition. All these polymers cover broad optical absorption ranges from 250 to 750 nm with narrow optical band gaps of 1.78–2.35 eV. Both PBDF and PBDFBTD show ambipolar redox properties with HOMO levels of ?5.38 and ?5.09 eV, respectively. The field‐effect mobility of holes varies from 2.9 × 10^?8 cm² V^?1 s^?1 in PBDF to 1.0 × 10^?5 cm² V^?1 s^?1 in PBDFBTD. Bulk heterojunction solar cell devices were fabricated using the polymers as the electron donor and [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester as the electron acceptor, leading to power conversion efficiencies of 0.24–0.57% under air mass 1.5 illumination (100 mW cm^?2). These results indicate that their band gaps, molecular electronic energy levels, charge mobilities, and molecular weights are readily tuned by copolymerizing the BDF core with different π‐conjugated units. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012