(2,1-a)-Indenofluorene derivatives: syntheses, X-ray structures, optical and electrochemical properties

Two novel fluorophores based on the (2,1-a)-indenofluorenyl backbone, dispirofluorene-9,11'-indeno2,1-a]fluorene-12',9'-fluorene], (2,1-a)-DSF-IF and 11,12-dihydroindeno2,1-a]fluorene (2,1-a)-IF have been prepared through original and efficient synthetic approaches. After consideration of synthetic features, the structural, optical and electrochemical properties of these new blue/violet emitters have been studied in detail by a combined experimental and theoretical approach. The properties of the (2,1-a)-DSF-IF and (2,1-a)-IF are also compared to those of their corresponding positional isomers based on the (1,2-b)-indenofluorenyl backbone and those of related dispirofluorene heteroacenes.