α-Oligofurans: an emerging class of conjugated oligomers for organic electronics

While the field of organic electronics has developed extensively in recent years, it remains limited by number of materials available. Further expansion requires the innovation of new types of π-conjugated backbones, but suitable candidates are discovered only very rarely. The recent introduction of a new class of conjugated materials, long α-oligofurans, was therefore greeted with considerable interest. α-Oligofurans possess many of the properties required to excel in applications as organic electronic materials, can be manufactured from renewable resources, and are expected to be biodegradable. This Minireview provides an account of long oligofurans from the perspectives of their synthesis, molecular properties, chemical reactivity, and use in electronic devices.