Core-extended terrylene diimide on the bay region: synthesis and optical and electrochemical properties

Two novel core-extended terrylene diimides on the bay region (CETDIs) were synthesized via annulation of the four additional ethylene units or benzene units on the bay region of the terrylene diimide core. The optical and electrochemical properties of the two compounds were investigated. These CETDIs exhibited broad absorption spectra with high extinction coefficients, which span a wide range in the ultraviolet and visible spectrum from 300 to 700 nm. Furthermore, the redox process of the CETDIs increased from two waves to four waves, and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels were enhanced from -4.00 to -3.59 eV.