Phenacyl–Thiophene and Quinone Semiconductors Designed for Solution Processability and Air‐Stability in High Mobility n‐Channel Field‐Effect Transistors

Electron‐transporting organic semiconductors (n‐channel) for field‐effect transistors (FETs) that are processable in common organic solvents or exhibit air‐stable operation are rare. This investigation addresses both these challenges through rational molecular design and computational predictions of n‐channel FET air‐stability. A series of seven phenacyl–thiophene‐based materials are reported incorporating systematic variations in molecular structure and reduction potential. These compounds are as follows: 5,5′′′‐bis(perfluorophenylcarbonyl)‐2,2′:5′,‐ 2′′:5′′,2′′′‐quaterthiophene ( 1 ), 5,5′′′‐bis(phenacyl)‐2,2′:5′,2′′: 5′′,2′′′‐quaterthiophene ( 2 ), poly[5,5′′′‐(perfluorophenac‐2‐yl)‐4′,4′′‐dioctyl‐2,2′:5′,2′′:5′′,2′′′‐quaterthiophene) ( 3 ), 5,5′′′‐bis(perfluorophenacyl)‐4,4′′′‐dioctyl‐2,2′:5′,2′′:5′′,2′′′‐quaterthiophene ( 4 ), 2,7‐bis((5‐perfluorophenacyl)thiophen‐2‐yl)‐9,10‐phenanthrenequinone ( 5 ), 2,7‐bis[(5‐phenacyl)thiophen‐2‐yl]‐9,10‐phenanthrenequinone ( 6 ), and 2,7‐bis(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐9,10‐phenanthrenequinone, ( 7 ). Optical and electrochemical data reveal that phenacyl functionalization significantly depresses the LUMO energies, and introduction of the quinone fragment results in even greater LUMO stabilization. FET measurements reveal that the films of materials 1 , 3 , 5 , and 6 exhibit n‐channel activity. Notably, oligomer 1 exhibits one of the highest μ_e (up to ≈0.3 cm² V^?1 s^?1) values reported to date for a solution‐cast organic semiconductor; one of the first n‐channel polymers, 3 , exhibits μ_e≈10^?6 cm² V^?1 s^?1 in spin‐cast films (μ_e=0.02 cm² V^?1 s^?1 for drop‐cast 1 : 3 blend films); and rare air‐stable n‐channel material 5 exhibits n‐channel FET operation with μ_e=0.015 cm² V^?1 s^?1, while maintaining a large I_on:off=10⁶ for a period greater than one year in air. The crystal structures of 1 and 2 reveal close herringbone interplanar π‐stacking distances (3.50 and 3.43 Å, respectively), whereas the structure of the model quinone compound, 7 , exhibits 3.48 Å cofacial π‐stacking in a slipped, donor‐acceptor motif.