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Acenes generated from precursors and their semiconducting properties
Motonori Watanabe1, Kew-Yu Chen, Yuan Jay Chang
1International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-Ku, Fukuoka, 8190395 Japan.
Accounts of Chemical Research
|April 25, 2013
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to synthesize larger acenes, which are aromatic hydrocarbons. This approach uses stable precursors to create previously inaccessible higher acenes like hexacene and nonacene.
Area of Science:
- Organic Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Acenes are aromatic hydrocarbons with linearly fused benzene rings.
- Larger acenes (beyond pentacene) are challenging to prepare due to instability and low solubility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the preparation of nonsubstituted acenes using novel precursor methods.
- To describe the properties and potential applications of these higher acenes.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing stable and soluble precursors that generate acenes upon heating or light irradiation.
- Two main strategies: masking pentacene with dienophiles or constructing higher acenes via conventional synthesis.
Main Results:
- Successfully prepared nonsubstituted hexacene, heptacene, octacene, and nonacene.
- Demonstrated a versatile method for generating acenes on demand.
Conclusions:
- The precursor strategy overcomes limitations in synthesizing higher acenes.
- This method opens avenues for exploring the chemistry and applications of acenes in organic electronics.
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