Efficient Synthesis and Electronic Spectra of Unsymmetrical 5,12-Diethynyltetracene Derivatives

Abstract

Unsymmetrical 5,12-diethynyltetracene derivatives were synthesized from tetracenequinone by the addition of two types of ethynyllithium reagents, followed by reductive aromatization with SnCl_2­. These three-step reactions could be integrated into a one-pot process to give unsymmetrically substituted 5,12-diethynyltetracene derivatives in moderate yields. Some unsymmetrical 5,12-bis(phenylethynyl)tetracene derivatives were synthesized from 5-ethynyl-12-phenylethynyltetracene and iodobenzenes by Sonogashira coupling. This integrated process was applied to the synthesis of a π-extended tetracene dimer. The photophysical properties of these compounds were examined by UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy.

Key words

tetracene - ethynyllithium - one-pot process - Sonogashira coupling - electronic spectrum

• References

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