A Soluble Pentacene Precursor: Synthesis, Solid-State Conversion into Pentacene and Application in a Field-Effect Transistor

[n]Acenes are an interesting group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: The lower [n]acenes are insulators, higher [n]acenes exhibit semiconducting properties, and poly[n]acene is calculated to be a metallic conductor. Pentacene films have been shown to exhibit charge carrier mobilities comparable to that of a-Si. Efficient processing is, however, a requirement for applications. Here, a new synthetic route to a soluble pentacene precursor is presented that could also be used for higher [n]acenes. The precursor can be converted to pentacene after processing, and the materials exhibit a high charge-carrier mobility.