Pentacene based Onsager crosses.

A dearomatization/aromatization strategy accesses the tetrahedral (crosslike) pentacene tetramer (tetrakis(4-((6,13-bis(TIPS-ethynyl)pentacen-2-yl)ethynyl)phenyl)silane). This molecular caltrop and one of its derivatives form amorphous thin films, demonstrating the impact of the 3D-tetramerization on the bulk morphology of the otherwise crystalline TIPS-pentacene.

Soluble diazaiptycenes: materials for solution-processed organic electronics.

The synthesis and characterization of soluble azaiptycenes is reported. Optical and physical properties were studied and compared with those of the structurally consanguine azaacenes. Electrochemical experiments and quantum-chemical calculations revealed the electronic structure of the iptycene derivatives. Their crystallization behavior was examined. A highly fluorescent amorphous diazatetracene derivative was integrated into a simple organic light-emitting diode, showing enhanced performance compared with that of previously reported, structurally similar tetracenes.

Alkynylated diazadioxaacenes: syntheses and properties.

We report the successful synthesis of a series of ethynylated dioxadiazaacenes and investigate their properties. We developed a modular Cu-based catalytic procedure to build up [1,4]dioxino[2,3-b]pyrazine motifs starting from only a few building blocks. TIPS-acetylene-substituted benzene-1,2-diol and naphthalene-2,3-diol were reacted with 2,3-dichloropyrazine, 2,3-dichloroquinoxaline, and 2,3-dichlorobenzoquinoxaline to give a set of six novel and well-soluble dioxadiazaacenes. Different reaction conditions for the coupling were tested. Copper catalysis is most effective and gave the best yield of dioxadiazaacenes. The resulting azaoxaacenes were characterized in terms of optical and electronic properties and crystal packing.

Alkynylated phenazines: synthesis, characterization, and metal-binding properties of their bis-triazolyl cycloadducts.

We have synthesized a series of ethynylated phenazines and their bis-triazolyl cycloadducts to serve as metal ion sensors. Binding of metal ions is achieved through coordination to the phenazine nitrogen atom and the triazole ring. To allow metal sensing in aqueous solution, the triazole units are substituted with water-soluble ethylene glycol chains. These phenazine cycloadducts exhibit a selective affinity for binding silver ions. Examination of the halogenated analogues reveals a lowering of the band gap and the corresponding bathochromic shifts in the absorption and emission spectra. The electron-withdrawing properties of these halogens also result in significantly decreased metal-binding activity of the phenazine cycloadducts.