Ring Fusion Elevates the Electronic Mobility of Azabenzannulated Perylene Diimide

Chemistry. 2024 May 2:e202401074. doi: 10.1002/chem.202401074. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

The backwardness of n-type organic semiconductors still exists compared with the p-type counterparts. Thus, the development of high-performance n-type organic semiconductors is of great importance for organic electronic devices and their integrated circuits. In recent years, azabenzannulated perylene diimide (PDI), as one of immense bay-region-annulated PDI derivatives, has drawn considerable attentions. However, the electronic mobilities of azabenzannulated PDI derivatives are barely satisfactory. In this contribution, the peripheral benzene ring in azabenzannulated PDI 2 was fused to the ortho position by intermolecular C-H arylation cyclization. This endows the resultant azabenzannulated PDI 4 a planar configuration as well as electron deficient pentagonal ring. As a result, the electronic mobility of 4 is almost two orders of magnitude higher than that of the nonfused azabenzannulated PDI 2. This work shall pave a new avenue in elevating the performance of azabenzannulated PDI in organic electronics.

Keywords: azabenzannulated perylene diimide; n-type; organic field-effect transistors (OFETs); pentagon; ring fusion.