A series of novel O-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, bearing a different number
of electron-donating alkoxy substituents, has been prepared using a novel copper-promoted
anaerobic protocol for the cyclisation of highly electron rich peri-xanthenoxanthene molecular modules. The effect of the number and position of the
alkoxy substituents on the optoelectronic properties has thus been investigated, unveiling
p-type semiconducting properties. All molecules displayed a significant colour change
upon oxidation, suggesting that these compounds can be used to devise chromogenic
materials to engineer electrochromic devices.
Key words
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - PXX - electrochromism - oxygen heterocycles - electrochromic
devices