Synthesis of Emissive Heteroacene Derivatives via Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution

A synthetic approach for preparing a variety of heterocyclic tetrahydropentacene derivatives via nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions of bidentate nucleophiles and tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile was developed. X-ray crystallography of several products revealed that the compounds containing oxygen and nitrogen heteroatoms are highly planar and engage in π-stacking, while the compounds containing sulfur are bent and do not stack as effectively. The compounds were also highly emissive, and the heteroatom had a significant impact on the emission and electrochemical properties.