Fluorescent cyclopentadithiophene derivatives having phenyl-substituted silyl moieties

4,4-Dimethylcyclopenta2,1-b:3,4-b′]dithiophene derivatives bearing trimethyl-, dimethylphenyl-, diphenylmethyl-, or triphenyl-silyl moieties were synthesized. The introduction of the silyl moieties onto cyclopenta2,1-b:3,4-b′]dithiophene induced fluorescent emission as well as the bathochromic shift of wavelength at the maximum absorption and fluorescence. It was found that the larger number of phenyl group on silyl moiety resulted in the higher fluorescence quantum yield.