Thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione‐3,4‐difluorothiophene Polymer Acceptors for Efficient All‐Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells

Branched‐alkyl‐substituted poly(thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione‐alt‐3,4‐difluorothiophene) (PTPD[2F]T) can be used as a polymer acceptor in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells with a low‐band‐gap polymer donor (PCE10) commonly used with fullerenes. The “all‐polymer” BHJ devices made with PTPD[2F]T achieve efficiencies of up to 4.4 %. While, to date, most efficient polymer acceptors are based on perylenediimide or naphthalenediimide motifs, our study of PTPD[2F]T polymers shows that linear, all‐thiophene systems with adequately substituted main chains can also be conducive to efficient BHJ solar cells with polymer donors.     

New photoluminescent conjugated polymers with 1,4‐dioxo‐3,6‐diphenylpyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole (DPP) and 1,4‐phenylene units in the main chain

A series of π‐conjugated polymers and copolymers containing 1,4‐dioxo‐3,6‐diphenylpyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole (also known as 2,5‐dihydro‐3,6‐diphenylpyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐1,4‐dione) (DPP) and 1,4‐phenylene units in the main chain is described. The polymers are synthesised using the palladium‐catalysed aryl‐aryl coupling reaction (Suzuki coupling) of 2,5‐dihexylbenzene‐1,4‐diboronic acid with 1,4‐dioxo‐2,5‐dihexyl‐3,6‐di(4‐bromophenyl)pyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole and 1,4‐dibromo‐2,5‐dihexylbenzene in different molar ratios. Soluble hairy rod‐type polymers with molecular weights up to 21 000 are obtained. Polymer solutions in common organic solvents such as chloroform or xylene are of orange colour (λ_max = 488 nm) and show strong photoluminescence (λ_max = 544 nm). The photochemical stability is found to be higher than for corresponding saturated polymers containing isolated DPP units in the main chain. Good solubility and processability into thin films render the compounds suitable for electronic applications.     

Synthesis of [1,2,5]selena(or thia)diazolo[3,4‐e][1,4]diazepines, [1,2,5]selena(or thia)diazolo[3,4‐e][1,4]oxazepines and [1,2,5]selena(or thia)diazolo[3,4‐c] [1,2,6]thiadiazines

Novel heterocycles [1,2,5]selenadiazolo[3,4‐e][1,4]diazepines 3a‐c , [1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐e]‐[1,4]diazepines 7a‐c , [1,2,5]selenadiazolo[3,4‐e][1,4]oxaepines 4a,b , [1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐e]‐[1,4]oxazepines 9a‐c and [1,2,5]selena(or thia)diazolo[3,4‐c][1,2,6]thiadiazines 10a,b were synthesized starting form 4,6‐dimethyl[1,2,5]se]enadiazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidine‐5,7(4H,6H)‐dione 1 or 4,6‐dimethyl‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidine‐5,7(4H,6H)‐dione 5 .     

Synthesis and Photovoltaic Properties of Thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione‐based donor–acceptor Copolymers

Three donor–acceptor (D–A) 1,3‐di(thien‐2‐yl)thieno [3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione‐based copolymers, poly{9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl‐alt‐1,3‐bis(4‐hexylthien‐2‐yl)‐5‐octylthieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione}, poly{N‐(1‐octylnonyl)carbazole‐2,7‐diyl‐alt‐1,3‐bis(4‐hexylthien‐2‐yl)‐5‐octylthieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione}, and poly {4,8‐bis(2‐ethylhexyloxyl) benzo[1,2‐b:3,4‐b′]dithiophene‐alt‐1,3‐bis(4‐hexylthien‐2‐yl)‐5‐octylthieno[3,4‐c] pyrrole‐4,6‐dione} were synthesized by Suzuki or Stille coupling reaction. By changing the donor segment, the bandgaps and energy levels of these copolymers could be finely tuned. Cyclic voltammetric study shows that the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels of the three copolymers are deep‐lying, which implies that these copolymers have good stability in the air and the relatively low HOMO energy level assures a higher open‐circuit potential when they are used in photovoltaic cells. Bulk‐heterojunction photovoltaic cells were fabricated with these polymers as the donors and PC₇₁BM as the acceptor. The cells based on the three copolymers exhibited power conversion efficiencies of 0.22, 0.74, and 3.11% with large open‐circuit potential of 1.01, 0.99, and 0.90 V under one sun of AM 1.5 solar simulator illumination (100 mW/cm²). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Multichromic benzimidazole‐containing polymers: Comparison of donor and acceptor unit effects

This study reports a comparative study on electrochromic properties of two donor–acceptor–donor (DAD)‐type polymers namely poly(2‐heptyl‐4,7‐di(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐1H‐benzo [d]imidazole) (BImTh) and poly(4,7‐bis(2,3‐dihydrothieno[3,4‐b] [1,4]dioxin‐5‐yl)‐2‐heptyl‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazole) (BImEd). DAD‐type monomers were polymerized electrochemically on indium tin oxide‐coated glass slides to determine the optical properties of the polymers. Electrochemical p‐doping experiments were performed to determine the band gap and absorption band values of the polymer films at different redox states. Polymerization of BImTh and BImEd yields multichromic polymers. Donor and acceptor effects are studied by comparing the PBImEd and PBImTh with corresponding benzotriazole derivatives. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Thiophene π bridge effect on bulky side‐chained benzodithiophene‐based photovoltaic polymers

Recently, we have used terthiophene side chain to modify benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene (BDT) to form novel building block for BDT polymers. In this paper, this building block is used to copolymerized with thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione (TPD) and thieno[3,4‐b]thiophene (TT). This building block and TPD‐ or TT‐based polymers (P1 and P3) show high open circuit voltage (V_OC) (ca. 0.9–0.95 V) and low energy loss (E_g–eV_OC) in solar cells devices compared with similar polymers without bulky side chain. We further introduce thiophene π bridge into these polymers backbone to form two other polymers (P2 and P4). We find this thiophene π bridge does contribute to this bulky side chained benzodithiophene polymer photovoltaic performances, especially for power conversion efficiencies (PCEs). The polymer solar cells (PSCs) performances are moderate in this article due to the serious aggregation in the PSCs active layer. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1615–1622     

Synthesis and reactivity of 6‐methyl‐4H‐furo[3,2c]pyran‐3,4‐dione

An efficient synthesis of 3‐bromoacetyl‐4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one by bromination of dehydroacetic acid in glacial acetic acid is described. Novel 4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐3‐(2‐substituted‐thiazol‐4‐yl)‐2H‐pyran‐2‐ones have been prepared from the reaction of 3‐bromoacetyl‐4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one with thioamides, thiourea, and diphenylthiocarbazone. The condensation reaction of 6‐methyl‐4H‐furo[3,2c]pyran‐3,4‐dione, obtained from the reaction of 3‐bromoacetyl‐4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one with aliphatic amines, with benzaldehydes and acetophenones led to novel 2‐arylidene‐6‐methyl‐2H‐furo[3,2‐c]pyran‐3,4‐diones and 6‐(2‐arylprop‐1‐enyl)‐2H‐furo[3,2‐c]pyran‐3,4‐diones. The structure of all compounds was established by elemental analysis, IR, NMR, and mass spectra. J. Heterocyclic Chem., 2011.     

Some Reactions with Indane‐1,3‐dione: A Facile Synthesis of Pentacycline Heterocyclic Analogues

Indane‐1,3‐dione 1 reacts with salicylaldehyde 5 and malononitrile 3 to afford 6‐amino‐7‐imino‐7H‐indeno‐[2′,1′:5,6]‐pyrano‐[3,4 ‐ c]‐chromene 6 , which could be transformed into the corresponding 7‐oxo derivative 7 . 2‐(3‐Oxoindan‐1‐ylidene)‐malononitrile 10 couples with the diazonium salts 8 , 14 , and 15 to afford after cyclization the indeno‐[2,1‐c]‐pyridazine 13 and the indeno‐[2′,1′:3,4]‐pyridazino‐[1,6‐a]‐quinazoline derivatives 20 and 21 , respectively.     

An Efficient Five‐Component Reaction for the Synthesis of 4,4′‐((2‐Oxoindoline‐3,3‐diyl)bis(methylene))bis(2‐aryl‐1H‐pyrrolo[3,4‐c]quinoline‐1,3(2H)‐dione) Derivatives

An efficient cascade process five‐component reaction of isatins and 3‐oxo‐N‐arylbutanamide for the synthesis of 4,4′‐((2‐oxoindoline‐3,3‐diyl)bis(methylene))bis(2‐aryl‐1H‐pyrrolo[3,4‐c]quinoline‐1,3(2H)‐dione) derivatives was reported under mild condition. The advantages of this strategy are easy to obtain raw materials, convenient one‐pot procedure, and simple operation.     

New synthesis and reactivity of 3‐bromoacetyl‐4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one with binucleophilic amines

3‐(Bromoacetyl)‐4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one was synthesized by the reaction of dehydroacetic acid (DHAA) with bromine in glacial acetic acid. Novel heterocyclic products were synthesized from the reaction of bromo‐DHAA with alkanediamines, phenylhydrazines, ortho‐phenylenediamines, and ortho‐aminobenzenethiol. The obtained new products 3‐(2‐N‐substituted‐acetyl)‐4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐ones, 4‐hydroxy‐3‐[1‐hydroxy‐2‐(2‐phenylhydrazinyl)vinyl]‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one, 1‐(2,4‐dinitrophenyl)‐7‐methyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrano[4,3‐c]pyridazine‐4,5‐dione, 3‐(3,4‐dihydroquinoxalin‐2‐yl)‐4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one/3‐(3,4‐dihydroquinoxalin‐2‐yl)‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2,4(3H)‐dione, 6‐methyl‐3‐(3,4‐dihydroquinoxalin‐2‐yl)‐2H‐pyran‐2,4(3H)‐dione, and (E)‐3‐(2H‐benzo[b][1,4]thiazin‐3(4H)‐ylidene)‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2,4(3H)‐dione were fully characterized by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and mass spectra. J. Heterocyclic Chem., 2011.     

From‐Core and From‐End Direct CH Arylations: A Step‐Saving New Synthetic Route to Thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione (TPD)‐Incorporated D‐‐π–A–π–D Functional Oligoaryls

In contrast to the traditional multistep synthesis, herein an efficient and fewer‐steps new synthetic strategy is demonstrated for the facile preparation of organic‐electronically important D–π–A–π–D‐type oligoaryls through sequential direct C?H arylations. This methodology has shown that the synthesis of thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione (TPD)‐ or furano[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione (FPD)‐centred target molecules could be accessed step‐economically either from the core structure (acceptor) or from the end structure (donor), which supplied a more flexible and succinct new synthetic alternative to the preparation of the π‐functional small‐molecule semiconducting materials. In addition, optical and electrochemical properties of the synthesized oligoaryls were examined.     

Synthesis and heterocyclizations of 3‐alkynyl‐6,8‐dimethylpyrimido‐[4,5‐c]pyridazine‐5,7(6H,8H)‐diones and their lumazine analogues

Synthesis of some condensed pyrrolo‐, thieno‐, furo‐, pyrido‐ and pyranopteridines as well as isomeric pyrrolo‐ and thienopyrimido[4,5‐c]pyridazines from alkynyl derivatives of 6,8‐dimethylpyrimido[4,5‐c]pyridazine‐5,7(6H,8H)‐dione and 1,3‐dimethyllumazine is represented.     

Donor–acceptor photovoltaic polymers based on 1,4‐dithienyl‐2,5‐dialkoxybenzene with intramolecular noncovalent interactions

Donor–acceptor (D–A) conjugated polymers bearing non‐covalent configurationally locked backbones have a high potential to be good photovoltaic materials. Since 1,4‐dithienyl‐2,5‐dialkoxybenzene ( TBT ) is a typical moiety possessing intramolecular S…O interactions and thus a restricted planar configuration, it was used in this work as an electron‐donating unit to combine with the following electron‐accepting units: 3‐fluorothieno[3,4‐b]thiophene ( TFT ), thieno‐[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione ( TPD ), and diketopyrrolopyrrole ( DPP ) for the construction of such D–A conjugated polymers. Therefore, the so‐designed three polymers, PTBTTFT , PTBTTPD , and PTBTDPP , were synthesized and investigated on their basic optoelectronic properties in detail. Moreover, using [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₇₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM) as acceptor material, polymer solar cells (PSCs) were fabricated for studying photovoltaic performances of these polymers. It was found that the optimized PTBTTPD cell gave the best performance with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.49%, while that of PTBTTFT displayed the poorest one (PCE = 1.96%). The good photovoltaic behaviors of PTBTTPD come from its lowest‐lying energy level of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) among the three polymers, and good hole mobility and favorable morphology for its PC₇₁BM‐blended film. Although PTBTDPP displayed the widest absorption spectrum, the largest hole mobility, and regular chain packing structure when blended with PC₇₁BM, its unmatched HOMO energy level and disfavored blend film morphology finally limited its solar cell performance to a moderate level (PCE: 3.91%). © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 689–698     

Reactions of alkyl (z)‐2‐[(E)‐2‐ethoxycarbonyl‐2‐(2‐pyridinyl)‐ethenyl]amino‐3‐dimethylaminopropenoates with C‐ and N‐nucleophiles. the synthesis of fused pyranones,pyridinones and pyrimidinones

Alkyl 2‐[2‐ethoxycarbonyl‐2‐(2‐pyridinyl)ethenyl]amino‐3‐dimethylaminopropenoates 3 and 4 were transformed with C‐and N‐nucleophiles into β‐heteroaryl‐α,β‐didehydro‐α‐amino acid derivatives 13 ‐ 16 , substituted 3‐amino‐4H‐quinolizin‐4‐one 17, 2H,5H‐benzo[b]pyran‐2,5‐dione 18 and 19 , 2H,5H‐pyrano[4,3‐b]pyran‐2,5‐dione 20 , 2H,5H‐pyrano[3,2‐c]benzo[b]pyran‐2,5‐dione 21 , 2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one 22 and 24 , pyrido[l,2‐a]pyrimidin‐4‐one 31–34 and 39 derivatives, and N‐heteroaryl‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carboxylates 37 and 38 .     

Diastereoselective Synthesis of (Z)‐6‐(2‐Oxo‐1,2‐dihydro‐3H‐indol‐3‐ylidene)‐3,3a,9,9a‐tetrahydroimidazo[4,5‐e]thiazolo[3,2‐b]‐1,2,4‐triazin‐2,7(1H,6H)‐diones

Two efficient and diastereoselective procedures for the synthesis of (Z)‐6‐(2‐oxo‐1,2‐dihydro‐3H‐indol‐3‐ylidene)‐3,3a,9,9a‐tetrahydroimidazo[4,5‐e]thiazolo[3,2‐b]‐1,2,4‐triazin‐2,7(1H,6H)‐diones by aldol‐crotonic condensation of 1,3‐dimethyl‐3a,9a‐diphenyl‐3,3a,9,9a‐tetrahydroimidazo[4,5‐e]thiazolo[3,2‐b]‐1,2,4‐triazin‐2,7(1H,6H)‐dione with isatins under acidic or basic catalysis are reported. Isomerization in (Z)‐7‐(1‐allyl‐2‐oxo‐1,2‐dihydro‐3H‐indol‐3‐ylidene)‐1,3‐dimethyl‐3a,9a‐diphenyl‐1,3a,4,9a‐tetrahydroimidazo[4,5‐e]thiazolo[2,3‐c]‐1,2,4‐triazin‐2,8(3H,7H)‐dione was observed under basic conditions.     

One‐Pot Three‐Component Synthesis of Benzo[f]thiopyrano[3,4‐b]quinolin‐11(8H)‐one Derivatives

A series of novel benzo[f]thiopyrano[3,4‐b]quinolin‐11(8H)‐one derivatives were synthesized via the reaction of aryl aldehyde, 2H‐thiopyran‐3,5(4H,6H)‐dione, and β‐naphthylamine in glacial acetic acid. This protocol features mild reaction conditions, high yields, and short reaction time.     

On the π‐Electron Distribution in Biphenylene Analogues

The bonding situation in a series of biphenylene analogues – benzo[b]biphenylene and its dication, 4,10‐dibromobenzo[b]biphenylene, naphtho[2,3‐b]biphenylene and its dianion, benzo[a]biphenylene, (biphenylene)tricarbonylchromium, benzo[3,4]cyclobuta[1,2‐c]thiophene, benzo[3,4]cyclobuta[1,2‐c]thiophene 2‐oxide, benzo[3,4]cyclobuta[1,2‐c]thiophene 2,2‐dioxide, 4,10‐diazabenzo[b]biphenylene, biphenylene‐2,3‐dione, benzo[3,4]cyclobuta[1,2‐b]anthracene‐6,11‐dione, and 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐benzo[3,4]cyclobuta[1,2]cycloheptene – where one of the two benzo rings of biphenylene is replaced by a different π‐system (B) was investigated on the basis of the NMR parameters of these systems. From the vicinal ¹H,¹H spin‐spin coupling constants, the electronic structure of the remaining benzo ring (A) is derived via the Q‐value method. It is found that increasing tendency of B to tolerate exocyclic double bonds at the central four‐membered ring of these systems favors increased π‐electron delocalization in the A ring. The analysis of the chemical shifts supports this conclusion. NICS (nucleus‐independent chemical shift) values as well as C,C bond lengths derived from ab initio calculations are in excellent agreement with the experimental data. The charged systems benzo[b]biphenylene dication and naphtho[2,3‐b]biphenylene dianion ( 7 ²⁻) are also studied by ¹³C NMR measurements. The charge distribution found closely resembles the predictions of the simple HMO model and reveals that 7 ²⁻ can be regarded as a benzo[3,4]cyclobuta[1,2‐b]‐substituted anthracene dianion. It is shown that the orientation of the tricarbonylchromium group in complexes of benzenoid aromatics can be derived from the vicinal ¹H,¹H coupling constants.     

One‐pot Combinatorial Synthesis of Benzo[4,5]imidazo‐[1,2‐a]thiopyrano[3,4‐d]pyrimidin‐4(3H)‐one Derivatives

A series of novel fused tetracyclic benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2‐a]thiopyrano[3,4‐d]pyrimidin‐4(3H)‐one derivatives were synthesized via the reaction of aryl aldehyde, 2H‐thiopyran‐3,5(4H,6H)‐dione, and 1H‐benzo[d]imidazol‐2‐amine in glacial acetic acid. This protocol features mild reaction conditions, high yields and short reaction time.     

Synthesis and characterization of phenanthrocarbazole–diketopyrrolopyrrole copolymer for high‐performance field‐effect transistors

In this study, we successfully designed and synthesized a novel phenanthro[1,10,9,8‐c,d,e,f,g]carbazole ( PCZ )‐based copolymer poly[N‐(2‐octyldodecyl)‐4,8‐phenanthro[1,10,9,8‐c,d,e,f,g]carbazole‐alt‐2,5‐dihexadecyl‐3,6‐di(thiophen‐2‐yl)pyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐1,4(2H,5H)‐dione] ( PPDPP ) with an extended π‐conjugation along the vertical orientation of polymer main chain. This polymer exhibited excellent solubility in common solvent and high thermal stability, owning good properties for solution‐processed field‐effect transistors (FETs). Besides, absorption spectra demonstrated that annealing PPDPP thin films led to obviously red‐shifted maxima, indicating the formations of aggregation or orderly π–π stacking in their solid‐state films. X‐ray diffraction measurements indicated the crystallinity of PPDPP thin films was enhanced after high temperature annealing, which was favorable for charge transport. The solution‐processed PPDPP ‐based FET devices were fabricated with a bottom‐gate/bottom‐contact geometry. A high hole mobility of up to 0.30 cm²/Vs and a current on/off ratio above 10⁵ had been demonstrated. These results indicated that the copolymers constructed by this kind of ladder‐type cores could be promising organic semiconductors for high‐performance FET applications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Synthesis of 4‐Aryl‐3‐Methyl‐1‐Phenyl‐1H‐Benzo[h]Pyrazolo[3,4‐b]Quinoline‐5,10‐diones Using Diammonium Hydrogen Phosphate as an Efficient and Versatile Catalyst in Water

A simple and efficient synthesis of 4‐aryl‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐benzo[h]pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinoline‐5,10‐diones has been accomplished by the one‐pot condensation reaction of 3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐amine, aldehydes and 2‐hydroxynaphthalene‐1,4‐dione in water in the presence of diammonium hydrogen phosphate.