Coordination‐Based Molecular Assemblies of Oligofurans and Oligothiophenes

Molecular assemblies (MAs) of oligofurans and oligothiophenes were formed from solutions on various substrates. These films were obtained by alternating deposition of organic chromophores (oligofurans or oligothiophenes) and a palladium salt. These coordination‐based MAs were characterized by UV/Vis spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM), X‐ray reflectivity (XRR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemistry. The MAs exhibit similar electrochemical behavior and their growth and structure are apparently not affected when different organic template layers are used. The density of the MAs is a function of the structure of the molecular component. The oligothiophene density is approximately 50 % higher than that observed for the oligofuran‐based assemblies. The optical and electrochemical properties of the MAs scale linearly with their thickness. The UV/Vis data indicate that upon increasing the film thickness, there is no significant conjugation between the metal‐separated organic chromophores. DFT calculations confirmed that the HOMO–LUMO gap of the surface‐bound oligofuran and oligothiophene metal oligomers do not change significantly upon increasing their chain length. However, electrochemical measurements indicate that the susceptibility of the MAs towards oxidation is dependent on the number of chromophore units.     

Fluorocarbon-modified organic semiconductors: molecular architecture, electronic, and crystal structure tuning of arene- versus fluoroarene-thiophene oligomer thin-film properties

We present here the systematic synthesis and comparative physicochemical characterization of a series of regiochemically varied and core size extension-modulated arene(perfluoroarene)-thiophene oligomers. The molecules investigated are: 5,5'-diphenyl-2,2':5',2':5',2'-quaterthiophene (1), 5,5'-bis[1-[4-(thien-2-yl)phenyl]]-2,2'-dithiophene (2), 4,4'-bis[5-(2,2'-dithiophenyl)]-biphenyl (3), 5,5'-diperfluorophenyl-2,2':5',2':5',2'-quaterthiophene (4), 5,5'-bis[1-[4-(thien-2-yl)perfluorophenyl]]-2,2'-dithiophene (5), 4,4'-bis[5-(2,2'-dithiophenyl)]-perfluorobiphenyl (6), 5,5'-diperfluorophenyl-2,2':5',2'-tertthiophene (7), 5,5'-diperfluorophenyl-2,2'-dihiophene (8), and 5,5-diperfluorophenylthiophene (9). Trends in optical absorption and emission parameters, molecular structures as defined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, as well as electrochemical redox processes are described. The morphologies and microstructures of the vapor-deposited films grown over a range of growth temperatures have also been characterized. Field-effect transistor (FET) measurements demonstrate that all of these materials are FET-active and, depending on the molecular architecture, exhibit comparably good p- or n-type mobility when optimum film microstructural order is achieved. A very large n-channel mobility of approximately 0.5 cm2/Vs with I(on)/I(off) ratios > 10(8) is achieved for films of 4.     

Reversible molecular switching of ruthenium bis(bipyridyl) groups bonded to oligothiophenes: effect on electrochemical and spectroscopic properties

We report the preparation of complexes in which ruthenium(II) bis(bipyridyl) groups are coordinated to oligothiophenes via a diphenylphosphine linker and a thienyl sulfur (P,S bonding) to give [Ru(bpy)(2)PT(3)-P,S](PF(6))(2) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridyl, PT(3) = 3'-(diphenylphosphino)-2,2':5',2' '-terthiophene), [Ru(bpy)(2)PMeT(3)-P,S](PF(6))(2) (PMeT(3) = 3'-(diphenylphosphino)-5-methyl-2,2':5',2' '-terthiophene), [Ru(bpy)(2)PMe(2)T(3)-P,S](PF(6))(2) (PMe(2)T(3) = 5,5' '-dimethyl-3'-(diphenylphosphino)-2,2':5',2' '-terthiophene), and [Ru(bpy)(2)PDo(2)T(5)-P,S](PF(6))(2) (PDo(2)T(5) = 3,3' ' '-didodecyl-3' '-diphenylphosphino-2,2':5',2' ':5' ',2' ':5' ',2' ' '-pentathiophene). These complexes react with base, resulting in the complexes [Ru(bpy)(2)PT(3)-P,C]PF(6), [Ru(bpy)(2)PMeT(3)-P,C]PF(6), [Ru(bpy)(2)PMe(2)T(3)-P,C]PF(6), and [Ru(bpy)(2)PDo(2)T(5)-P,C]PF(6), where the thienyl carbon is bonded to ruthenium (P,C bonding). The P,C complexes revert back to the P,S bonding mode by reaction with acid; therefore, metal-thienyl bonding is reversibly switchable. The effect of interaction of the metal groups in the different bonding modes with the thienyl backbone is reflected by changes in alignment of the thienyl rings in the solid-state structures of the complexes, the redox potentials, and the pi --> pi transitions in solution. Methyl substituents attached to the terthiophene groups allow observation of the effect of these substituents on the conformational and electronic properties and aid in assignments of the electrochemical data. The PT(n)() ligands bound in P,S and P,C bonding modes also alter the electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of the ruthenium bis(bipyridyl) group. Both bonding modes result in quenching of the oligothiophene luminescence. Weak, short-lived Ru --> bipyridyl MLCT-based luminescence is observed for [Ru(bpy)(2)PDo(2)T(5)-P,S](PF(6))(2), [Ru(bpy)(2)PT(3)-P,C]PF(6), [Ru(bpy)(2)PMeT(3)-P,C]PF(6), and [Ru(bpy)(2)PMe(2)T(3)-P,C]PF(6), and no emission is observed for the alternate bonding mode of each complex.     

Synthesis, optical, and electrochemical properties of conjugated oligomers derived from 4-bromo-4-(n-butyl)-2,2-biphenyl

The synthesis, optical, and electrochemical properties of semi-conducting co-oligomers of biphenyl/oligothiophenes and homo-oligophenylenes derived from a precursor 4-bromo-4^′-(n-butyl)-2,2^′-biphenyl, which was synthesized by a direct alkylation from 4,4^′-dibromo-2,2^′-biphenyl using n-butyl lithium, are reported.     

Towards Molecular Design Rationalization in Branched Multi‐Thiophene Semiconductors: The 2‐Thienyl‐Persubstituted α‐Oligothiophenes

The introduction of branching in multi‐thiophene semiconductors, although granting the required solubility for processing, results in an increased molecular fluxionality and a higher level of distortion, thus hampering π conjugation. Accordingly, branched oligothiophenes require rationalization of their structure–reactivity relationships for target‐oriented design and optimization of the synthetic effort. Our current research on spiderlike oligothiophenes affords deep insight into the subject, and introduces new, easily accessible molecules with attractive functional properties. In particular, a regular series, T′X _Y , of five new multi‐thiophene systems, T′5₃ , T′8₄ , T′11₅ , T′14₆ , and T′17₇ , constituted by five, eight, 11, 14, and 17 thiophene units, respectively, their longest α‐conjugated chain consisting of tri‐, tetra‐, penta‐, hexa‐, and heptathiophene moieties, respectively, has been synthesized and fully characterized from the structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical point of view. The electronic properties of the monomers and their electropolymerization ability are discussed and rationalized as a function of their molecular structure, particularly in comparison with the series of 5‐(2,2′‐dithiophene)yl‐persubstituted α‐oligothiophenes ( TX _Y ) previously reported by us. These oligothiophenes are easily accessible materials, with promising properties for applications as active layers in multifunctional organic devices including solar cells.     

Polyhydroxyoligothiophenes. 2. Hydrogen-Bonding-Oriented Solid State Conformation of 3,3'-Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,2'-bithiophene and Regioselective Synthesis of the Corresponding Head-to-Head/Tail-to-Tail Quater- and Sexithiophene

This paper reports the X-ray structure of 3,3'-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,2'-bithiophene (1), which is the building block for the synthesis of head-to-head/tail-to-tail 2-hydroxyethyl-substituted oligothiophenes. Contrary to all the bithiophenes reported so far, 1 exhibits a noncoplanar anti conformation and an inter-ring twist angle (67.5 degrees ) which is the largest ever measured for adjacent rings of alpha-conjugated oligothiophenes. This unusual conformation appears to be dictated by intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions involving the OH groups, which bind the molecule in close packed layers. The paper also describes the regioselective synthesis of the dimer and the trimer of 1, namely of 3,3',4",3"'-tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,2':5',2":5",2"'-quaterthiophene (3c) and of 3,3',4",3"',4",3"'-hexakis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,2':5',2":5",2"':5"',2":5",2"'-sexithiophene (4b). 3c And 4b were obtained through palladium(0)-catalyzed coupling of the mono- and distannanes of the tetrahydropyranyl derivative of 1 with the appropriate monobromo compound (Stille's reaction). Finally, the paper reports force-field calculations which suggest that the low lambda(max) values measured for 1, 3c, and 4b are also the result of intramolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions which favor highly twisted conformations in solution.     

Planarized star-shaped oligothiophenes with enhanced pi-electron delocalization

[structure: see text] Planarized star-shaped oligothiophenes 1 have been synthesized by connecting short-chain oligothiophenes on a benzo[1,2-b:3,4-b':5,6-b' ']trithiophene central core. Their electrochemical and optical properties have been characterized by cyclic voltammetry and UV-visible spectroscopy, respectively. These results associated with theoretical calculations show the advantage of benzotrithiophene as a central core in terms of pi-electron delocalization.     

A comparison of linear optical properties and redox properties in chalcogenopyrylium dyes bearing ortho-substituted aryl substituents and tert-butyl substituents

A series of thiapyrylium pentamethine dyes (4 and 12-15) bearing 2,2'-di-tert-butyl-6,6'-diphenyl, 2,2'-di-tert-butyl-6,6'-bis(2,6-dimethylphenyl), 2,2'-di-tert-butyl-6,6'-bis(2-methylphenyl), 2,2',6,6'-tetrakis(2,6-dimethylphenyl), and 2,2',6,6'-tetrakis(2-methylphenyl) substituents, respectively, were prepared and their linear optical properties and electrochemical redox properties were measured and compared to thiapyrylium pentamethine dyes 3 and 5. The tert-butyl and 2,6-dimethylphenyl substituents give nearly identical chromophores with respect to values of lambda(max), molar extinction coefficients (epsilon), bandwidths at half-height (nu(1/2)), and lack of absorption in the visible spectrum. The 2-methylphenyl substituent imparts linear optical properties that are intermediate between those of the tert-butyl and phenyl substituents. The 2,6-dimethylphenyl and 2-methylphenyl substituents impart greater oxidative stability based on anodic shifts in oxidation potential.     

Dinitro and quinodimethane derivatives of terthiophene that can be both oxidized and reduced. Crystal structures,spectra, and a method for analyzing quinoid contributions to structure

Two new oligothiophenes, the dinitro compound 3',4'-dibutyl-5,5' '-dinitro-2,2':5',2' '-terthiophene (1) and the quinodimethane 3',4'-dibutyl-5,5' '-bis(dicyanomethylene)-5,5' '-dihydro-2,2':5',2' '-terthiophene (2), have been synthesized and studied with electrochemistry, UV-vis-NIR-IR spectroscopy, ESR, and X-ray crystallography. These compounds, designed to be both electron and hole carriers, show redox properties that are unusual for oligothiophenes. Cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemistry demonstrated that each compound could be oxidized to a cation radical and reduced to an anion radical and dianion. The spectra of 2 and its three redox partners were analyzed in terms of a limiting structure in which the neutral 2 has orbitals corresponding to those of a substituted-terthiophene dication. Compound 1 crystallizes with the thiophene rings held in an unusual nonplanar, cisoid configuration in face-to-face pi-stacks, with a spacing between molecules of 3.65 A. The C-C bond lengths of the outer nitro-substituted rings have quinoid character. Compound 2 crystallizes with the thiophene rings in a planar, transoid configuration. The molecules are held in pi-stacks formed from pi-dimers with a spacing between molecules of 3.47 and 3.63 A. The C-C bond distances of the thiophene rings of 1 and 2 and other oligomers were analyzed by a principal component analysis. The analysis found that 93% of the structural variance resided in one principal component related to the quinoid structure of the oligothiophene moiety. The analysis reliably demonstrated a quinoid contribution to the structure of 1. This method should be applicable to understanding the structure of other conjugated molecules in which quinoid structures contribute.     

Synthesis of Pd complexes combined with photosensitizing of a ruthenium(II) polypyridyl moiety through a series of substituted bipyrimidine bridges. Substituent effect of the bridging ligand on the photocatalytic dimerization of alpha-methylstyrene

Mononuclear ruthenium complexes and dinuclear Ru...Pd complexes having a series of 2,2'-bipyrimidine ligands, [(bpy)2Ru(Ln)]2+ [Ln = 2,2'-bipyrimidine (L1), 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyrimidine (L2), 5,5'-dibromo-2,2'-bipyrimidine (L3), 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyrimidine (L4), and 4,4',6,6'-tetramethyl- 2,2'-bipyrimidine (L5)] and [(bpy)2Ru(Ln)PdL]m+ [Ln = L1-L3; PdL = PdMeCl (m = 2) and PdMe(solvent) (m = 3)], are prepared, and the obtained complexes are characterized by means of spectroscopic and crystallographic methods. Introduction of the substituents on the bipyrimidine ligands led to the substantial differences in their electrochemical and photophysical properties. Density functional theory calculations have been performed to understand the substituent effect on the ground-state molecular orbital energy level. Reactivity studies on the catalytic dimerization of alpha-methylstyrene revealed that the Pd complex having a Br-substituted bipyrimidine ligand were much more active than those of the corresponding Pd complexes having methyl-substituted or nonsubstituted bipyrimidine ligands.     

Phosphorescent binuclear iridium complexes based on terpyridine-carboxylate: an experimental and theoretical study

The phosphorescent binuclear iridium(III) complexes tetrakis(2-phenylpyridine)μ-(2,2':6',2'-terpyridine-6,6'-dicarboxylic acid)diiridium (Ir1) and tetrakis(2-(2,4-difluorophenyl) pyridine))μ-(2,2':6',2'-terpyridine-6,6'-dicarboxylic acid)diiridium (Ir2) were synthesized in a straightforward manner and characterized using X-ray diffraction, NMR, UV-vis absorption, and emission spectroscopy. The complexes have similar solution structures in which the two iridium centers are equivalent. This is further confirmed by the solid state structure of Ir2. The newly reported complexes display intense luminescence in dichloromethane solutions with maxima at 538 (Ir1) and 477 nm (Ir2) at 298 K (496 and 468 nm at 77 K, respectively) and emission quantum yields reaching ~18% for Ir1. The emission quantum yield for Ir1 is among the highest values reported for dinuclear iridium complexes. It shows only a 11% decrease with respect to the emission quantum yield reported for its mononuclear analogue, while the molar extinction coefficient is roughly doubled. This suggests that such architectures are of potential interest for the development of polymetallic assemblies showing improved optical properties. DFT and time-dependent-DFT calculations were performed on the ground and excited states of the complexes to provide insights into their structural, electronic, and photophysical properties.     

Creation of Functional Organic Gels Based on Oligothiophenes

Polymer gels have received a great deal of attention not only from scientific interest but also for their practical applications. Recently, low molecular-weight organic gels have also been receiving growing attention. However, their have been few studies of low molecular-weight organic gels in contrast to extensive studies of polymer gels. In order to develop a novel class of low-molecular-weight organic gels and to gain an insight into the relationship between molecular structures of gel-form…     

Blue emitting 3π-2spiro terfluorene-indenofluorene isomers: a structure-properties relationship study

Two novel terfluorenyl derivatives, 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(9,9-dioctyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl)dispiro[fluorene-9,11'-indeno-(2,1-a)-fluorene-12',9'-fluorene] ((2,1-a)-DST-IF) and 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(9,9-dioctyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl)dispiro- [fluorene-9,6'-indeno-(1,2-b)-fluorene-12',9'-fluorene] ((1,2-b)-DST-IF) have been synthesized by two different synthetic approaches. These terfluorenyl derivatives possess a different central indenofluorene core, namely (2,1-a)-indenofluorene or (1,2-b)-indenofluorene, which imposes two distinct geometry profiles, and different structural environments for the terfluorenyl fluorophores that translates into drastically different optical and electrochemical properties for (2,1-a)-DST-IF and (1,2-b)-DST-IF. These properties have been carefully studied through a combined experimental and theoretical approach. The (2,1-a)-DST-IF isomer has been successfully used as emitting layer in a blue single-layer small-molecule organic light-emitting diode (SMOLED) and appears as the first example of a blue emission arising from intramolecular terfluorenyl excimers. Regarding the importance of terfluorenyl derivatives in organic electronics, the present structure-properties relationship study, may open new avenues in the design of efficient blue fluorophores.     

Electrocatalytic properties of guanine, adenine, guanosine-5'-monophosphate, and ssDNA by Fe(II) bis(2,2':6',2'-terpyridine), Fe(II) tris(1,10-phenanthroline), and poly-Fe(II) tris(5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline)

The electrocatalytic oxidations of guanine, adenine, guanosine-5'-monophosphate(GMP) and ssDNA were performed in the presence of Fe(II) bis(2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) and Fe(II) tris(1,10-phenanthroline) complexes as homogeneous catalysts by cyclic voltammetric methods. The Fe(II/III) redox couple of these compounds is responsible for their catalytic properties. The electrocatalytic oxidation current of above substrates were developed from the anodic peak currents of Fe(II) bis(2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) and Fe(II) tris(1,10-phenanthroline) complexes at about +0.93 V and 0.97 V, respectively. The electrocatalytic oxidative properties of guanine by Fe(II) bis(2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) complex was measured by amperometry method using the rotating disk electrodes. Electropolymerization of Fe(II) tris(5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline) complex produced thin polymer films on gold and glassy carbon electrodes. The electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) and cyclic voltammetry were used to study the in situ growth of the polymer. The poly(FeII(5-NH(2)-1,10-phen)(3)) exhibited a good electrocatalytic oxidation towards guanine and also for the mixture of guanine and adenine too.     

Electropolymerization of Pd(II) complexes containing phosphinoterthiophene ligands

A series of Pd complexes of 3'-diphenylphosphino-2,2':5'2' '-terthiophene (1a, dppterth) in which the metal is coordinated in three different modes have been prepared and electropolymerized, resulting in the formation of conductive thin films. In [Pd2(mu-Cl2)(dppterth-P,C3)2] (3a) the metal is P,C-coordinated, in [PdCl2(dppterth-P)2] (4a) the coordination is monodentate via the phosphine, and in [Pd(dppterth-P,C3)(dppterth-P,S1)][PF6] (5a) both P,C- and P,S-coordination modes are found. In 5a, the coordinated thiophene is hemilabile and may be displaced by reaction with more strongly coordinating ligands such as isocyanides. To probe the effect of blocking the alpha-position of the terthienyl moiety with methyl groups, 3'-diphenylphosphino-5-methyl-2,2':5'2' '-terthiophene (1b, Me-dppterth) and 3'-diphenylphosphino-5,5' '-dimethyl-2,2':5'2' '-terthiophene (1c, Me2-dppterth) were prepared, and the corresponding series of Pd complexes was synthesized. One of these complexes, [Pd(Me2-dppterth-P,C3)(Me2-dppterth-P,S1)][PF6] (5c), has been crystallographically characterized. The electropolymerized films prepared from 5a react with isonitriles, and shifts in the absorption spectra of the electropolymerized materials are observed upon reaction. A Pd complex has also been prepared from 5-diphenylphosphino-2,2':5'2' '-terthiophene (2, 5dppterth), and this complex has been electropolymerized. All the electropolymerized thin films have been characterized using EDX analysis, which demonstrates good correspondence with the elemental analysis of the respective monomers, and the maximum conductivities of the films are near 10(-4) S x cm(-1). Comparing the electropolymerization behavior of the complexes, along with their electrochemical and spectroscopic data, allows conclusions to be drawn regarding the involvement of pi-delocalization and the metal group in the conductivity of the materials.     

High electron mobility in solution-cast and vapor-deposited phenacyl-quaterthiophene-based field-effect transistors: toward N-type polythiophenes

New carbonyl-functionalized quaterthiophenes, 5,5' '-diperfluorophenylcarbonyl-2,2':5',2' ':5' ',2' '-quaterthiophene [DFCO-4T], 5,5' '-diphenyl-2,2':5',2' ':5' ',2' '-quaterthiophene [DPCO-4T], and a polymer having the same basic motif as DFCO-4T, poly{1,4-bis[(3'-n-octyl-2,2'-dithiophene)carbonyl]-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzene} [P(COFCO-4T)], have been synthesized, characterized, and the crystal structures of the molecules determined. Field-effect transistors fabricated with vapor-deposited and solution-cast films of DFCO-4T exhibit very high Ion:Ioff current ratios (up to 108) and electron mobilities up to approximately 0.51 and approximately 0.25 cm2.V-1.s-1, respectively. Solution-cast blends of P(COFCO-4T) and DFCO-4T (1:1 weight ratio) exhibit an electron mobility of approximately 0.01 cm2.V-1.s-1 (Ion:Ioff = 104).     

含铁磁耦合Ni3单元的均苯三甲酸桥联双层镍(II)配合物

使用均苯三甲酸与碳酸镍在水热条件下反应得到了一例新的二维双层Ni(II)配位聚合物Ni3(BTC)2(μ-H2O)26H2O。二维层包含syn-syn羧酸桥和水桥连接的三核Ni3单元,进一步用均苯三甲酸上的苯环连接成二维层状结构。磁性研究表明,相邻Ni2+离子间存在弱的铁磁耦合作用。水桥连镍离子的桥联键角为122.8(3)deg,所以通过该水桥镍离子间应该呈现反铁磁耦合。因此,实验结果证明了syn-syn羧酸桥传递铁磁耦合,而且铁磁耦合大于反铁磁作用,最终配合物呈弱的铁磁耦合。基于本工作和文献报道的含syn-syn 羧酸混合桥联镍配合物的磁性,我们总结出下面结论：Ni–O–C–O–Ni的共面性与否决定了配合物的磁性。共面性好的Ni–O–C–O–Ni导致中等强度的反铁磁耦合,而共面性差会消弱反铁磁作用,甚至出现由反铁磁变为铁磁耦合。标题配合物中羧酸桥所传递的铁磁性可能就归因于Ni–O–C–O–Ni的不共平面性。因此,与含羧酸桥的混合桥联双核铜(II)配合物类似,轨道补偿效应(the orbital complementary effect (OCE))对于解释水/羧酸混合桥联镍(II)配合物的磁性也同样适用。     

Effect of thickness on the thermal properties of hydrogen-bonded LbL assemblies

Layer-by-layer (LbL) assemblies have attracted much attention for their functional versatility and ease of fabrication. However, characterizing their thermal properties in relation to the film thickness has remained a challenging topic. We have investigated the role of film thickness on the glass transition temperature (T(g)) and coeffecient of thermal expansion for poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(acrylic acid) (PEO/PAA) and PEO/poly(methacrylic acid) (PEO/PMAA) hydrogen-bonded LbL assemblies in both bulk and ultrathin films using modulated differential scanning calorimetry (modulated DSC) and temperature-controlled ellipsometry. In PEO/PAA LbL films, a single, well-defined T(g) was observed regardless of film thickness. The T(g) increased by 9 °C relative to the bulk T(g) as film thickness decreased to 30 nm because of interactions between the film and its substrate. In contrast, PEO/PMAA LbL films show a single glass transition only after a thermal cross-linking step, which results in anhydride bonds between PMAA groups. The T(g), within error, was unaffected by film thickness, but PEO/PMAA LbL films of thicknesses below ~2.7 μm exhibited a small amount of PEO crystallization and phase separation for the thermally cross-linked films. The coefficients of thermal expansion of both types of film increased with decreasing film thickness.     

n-channel polymers by design: optimizing the interplay of solubilizing substituents, crystal packing, and field-effect transistor characteristics in polymeric bithiophene-imide semiconductors

Electron transporting (n-channel) polymer semiconductors for field-effect transistors are rare. In this investigation, the synthesis and characterization of new electron-depleted N-alkyl-2,2'-bithiophene-3,3'-dicarboximide-based pi-conjugated homopolymers and copolymers containing the 2,2'-bithiophene unit are reported. A novel design approach is employed using computational modeling to identify favorable monomer properties such as core planarity, solubilizing substituent tailorability, and appropriate electron affinity with gratifying results. Monomeric model compounds are synthesized to confirm these properties, and a crystal structure reveals a short 3.43 A pi-pi stacking distance with favorable solubilizing substituent orientations. A family of 10 homopolymers and bithiophene copolymers is then synthesized via Yamamoto and Stille polymerizations, respectively. Two of these polymers are processable in common organic solvents: the homopolymer poly(N-(2-octyldodecyl)-2,2'-bithiophene-3,3'-dicarboximide) (P1) exhibits n-channel FET activity, and the copolymer poly(N-(2-octyldodecyl)-2,2':5',2':5',2'-quaterthiophene-3,3'-dicarboximide) (P2) exhibits air-stable p-channel FET operation. After annealing, P1 films exhibit a very high degree of crystallinity and an electron mobility > 0.01 cm (2) V(-1) s(-1) with a current on-off ratio of 10 (7), which is remarkably independent of film-deposition conditions. Extraordinarily, P1 films also exhibit terracing in AFM images with a step height matching the X-ray diffraction d spacing, a rare phenomenon for polymeric organic semiconductors. Another fascinating property of these materials is the air-stable p-channel FET performance of annealed P2 films, which exhibit a hole mobility of approximately 0.01 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) and a current on-off ratio of 10(7).     

Highly fluorescent solid-state asymmetric spirosilabifluorene derivatives

A series of four asymmetrically aryl-substituted 9,9'-spiro-9-silabifluorene (SSF) derivatives, 2,2'-di-tert-butyl-7,7'-diphenyl-9,9'-spiro-9-silabifluorene (PhSSF), 2,2'-di-tert-butyl-7,7'-dipyridin-2-yl-9,9'-spiro-9-silabifluorene (PySSF), 2,2'-di-tert-butyl-7,7'-dibiphenyl-4-yl-9,9'-spiro-9-silabifluorene (BPhSSF), and 2,2'-di-tert-butyl-7,7'-bis(2',2' '-bipyridin-6-yl)-9,9'-spiro-9-silabifluorene (BPySSF) are prepared through the cyclization of the corresponding 2,2'-dilithiobiphenyls with silicon tetrachloride. These novel spiro-linked silacyclopentadienes (siloles) form transparent and stable amorphous films with relatively high glass transition temperatures (T(g) = 203-228 degrees C). The absorbance spectrum of each compound shows a significant bathochromic shift relative to that of the corresponding carbon analogue as a result of the effective sigma-pi conjugation between the sigma orbital of the exocyclic Si-C bond and the pi orbital of the oligoarylene fragment. Solid-state films exhibit intense violet-blue emission (lambda(PL) = 398-415 nm) with high absolute photoluminescence quantum yields (phi(PL) = 30-55%).