Three‐component One‐pot Synthetic Route to Functionalized N‐Phenyl‐ and N,N‐(1,4‐phenylene)‐2‐alkylimino‐2,3‐dihydrothiazoles under Mild,Solvent‐ and Catalyst‐free Conditions

A simple and efficient one‐pot synthesis of alkyl‐2‐(alkylimino)‐4‐methyl‐3‐phenyl‐2,3‐dihydrothiazole‐5‐carboxylate and dialkyl 3,3′‐(1,4‐phenylene)‐bis‐[2‐(alkylimino)‐4‐methyl‐2,3‐dihydrothiazole‐5‐carboxylate] derivatives from the reaction of phenylisothiocyanate (and also 1,4‐phenylene diisothiocyanate) and primary alkylamines in the presence of 2‐chloro‐1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds is described. This new protocol has several advantages such as lack of necessity of the catalyst and solvent, good yields,mild conditions and short times for reaction.     

Synthesis, optical properties and crystal structures of carbazole end-capped phenylene ethynylene blue light-emitting materials

A class of highly fluorescent and stable carbazole end-capped phenylene ethynylene compounds have been synthesized and characterized. They show high extinction coefficients of absorption () and quantum yields of fluorescence (; Φ_F=0.52-0.73) in dichloromethane. The solid state absorptions and emissions are significantly red-shifted from the dilute solution ones (; ). Their photoluminescent properties and crystal structures have been investigated with the aim of providing a basis for elucidating the structure-physical property relationships. These data indicate their potential use as blue-emitting materials in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).     

Synthesis of poly(p‐phenylene vinylene)‐ and poly(phenylene ethynylene)‐based polymers containing p‐terphenyl in the main chain with alkoxyphenyl side groups

Starting from the pyrylium salt and following a facile synthetic route, we synthesized and polymerized 4,4″‐diiodo‐2′,6′‐di[4‐(2′‐ethylhexyl)oxy]phenyl‐p‐terphenyl with p‐divinylbenzene or p‐diethynylbenzene. The resulting polymers had moderate molecular weights, were amorphous, and dissolved in tetrahydrofuran and chloroform, with glass‐transition temperatures of 120–131 °C. The polymers behaved as violet‐blue‐emitting materials with photoluminescence maxima around 420 and 450 nm in solution and in thin films, respectively. They possessed well‐defined chromophores resulting from steric interactions in the polymer chain. The photoluminescence quantum yields were up to 0.29. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2591–2600, 2002     

The efficient synthesis of unsymmetrical oligo(phenylenevinylenes)

Selective DDQ oxidation of 2,5-bis(methylmethoxy)-1,4-di(octyloxy)benzene generates an unsymmetrical subunit suitable for the preparation of substituted tetrameric oligo(phenylenevinylenes) in good to excellent yields.     

1,2,5,6-Naphthalenediimide-based conjugated copolymers linked by ethynyl units

Two copolymers of P1 and P2 comprising benzothiadiazole, 1,4-bis(dodecyloxy)-benzene units were synthesized by Sonogashira coupling polymerization based on ethynyl-linked 1,2,5,6-naphthalenediimide.Their thermal, optical,electrochemical as well as charge transport properties were studied. Bottom-gate top-contact organic field-effect transistors(OFETs) measurements of P1 and P2 thin films showed different charge transport behaviors. P1 displayed pure electron transport behaviors in OFETs with electron mobility up to 10~(-3 )cm~2·V~(-1)·s~(-1), while P2 exhibited hole transport features. The molecular structure analysis revealed that the structure of P1 has the acceptor-linker-acceptor′(A-L-A′) characteristic, and P2 possesses the donor-linker-acceptor(D-L-A) structure feature. The results demonstrate that different molecular structures lead them to have distinct charge transport behaviors. In particular, the first pure electron transport copolymer in OFETs based on 1,2,5,6-naphthalenediimide is achieved.     

Recent advances in acetylene-based helical oligomers and polymers: Synthesis,structures, and properties

In this review, we describe the recent advances in the chemistry of helical polymers and oligomers containing acetylene units in the main chain. Owing to their great benefits such as high availability and handleability, good reactivity, rigidity, linearity, and low bulkiness, acetylene units have been utilized and incorporated in helical folding oligomers and polymers such as oligo- and poly(m-phenylene ethynylene)s. General synthetic methods as well as the structures, functions, and properties of acetylene-based helical oligomers and polymers are discussed by focusing on recent examples from 2009 to 2017.     

Synthesis,characterization, and structure–property investigation of conformationally rigid regioisomers of poly(p‐phenylene ethynylene)s

A series of rigid poly(p‐phenylene ethynylene)s ( PPE1 – PPE4 ) with biphenyl‐ ( M1–M3 ) and phenyl‐ ( M4 ) side groups is prepared from appropriately functionalized monomers. Herein, the solution and solid state absorption studies show the polymers have adopted twisted and rigid conformations, as supported by deep HOMO energy levels (?5.76 to ?5.81 eV). The absorption maxima of PPE1–PPE3 are shifted to shorter wavelength (λ_max = 375–381 nm) as compared to linear poly(p‐phenylene ethynylene)s (446 nm), implying a nonplanar conformation. The self‐assembly of polymers into fibers is examined using scanning electron microscopy. The fibers are not observed in PPE4 with short phenyl side group, suggesting the important role of the interplay between rigidity, position, and size of the side chains toward the formation of fibers. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3652–3662     

Poly(phenylene ethynylene)s with alkoxyphenyl substituents

Two new poly(phenylene ethynylene)s with alkoxyphenyl substituents were synthesized and characterized. The polymers were amorphous, dissolved readily in common organic solvents, and showed glass‐transition temperatures at 162–175 °C. They showed blue photoluminescence both in solution and in the solid state due to the steric interaction between the substituents and the main chain that caused an interruption of the conjugation length. The quantum yields in a tetrahydrofuran solution were up to 0.63. Excimer emission was the dominant product of the photoexcitation of thin films of the polymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1449–1455, 2002     

A‐π‐D‐π‐A type Small Molecules Using Ethynylene Linkages for Organic Solar Cells with High Open‐circuit Voltages

Introducing ethynylene linkages in a conjugated molecule can deepen the HOMO level, decrease the steric constraints and better delocalize the π electrons and so on, which are beneficial for organic solar cells. Furthermore, the typical method of introducing acetylene linkages by Sonogashira reactions can avoid the usage of toxic stannyl intermediates and potentially dangerous lithiation reactions. In this study, two simple small molecules BEDPP and NEDPP are designed and synthesized, in which two diketopyrrolopyrrole units are symmetrically connected to benzene and naphthalene cores, respectively, via acetylene linkages. And the BHJ (Bulk Heterojunction) solar cells based on BEDPP and NEDPP without using solvent additive and without any post‐treatment for the active layers provide us power conversion efficiencies of 1.48% and 2.31% with remarkably high open circuit voltages up to 0.90 and 0.98 V, respectively.