ABSTRACT

Three new π-conjugated hetero aromatic materials consisting of pyridine 3a, furan 3b, and thiophene 3c have been synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation reaction. These molecules have been characterized by ¹H NMR, EI-MS and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Molecule 3a crystallized under monoclinic system with space group C2/c, molecule 3b crystallized under triclinic system with space group P-1 and the molecule 3c crystalized under triclinic system with space group P-1. The optoelectronic properties of these compounds have been studied. Molecules 3a, 3b and 3c showed strong absorption maxima wavelengths at 300, 419 and 418 nm, respectively. The molar extinction coefficients (ε) of the compounds 3a, 3b and 3c suggested that molecule 3b has better ability to absorb UV light; molecule 3a has better fluorescence intensity than molecule 3b and 3c. Low energy gaps of HOMO and LUMO energy levels of these compounds suggests that these compounds may be a promising new class of lead compounds for developing high performance semiconductor materials. Compounds 3a, 3b and 3c has emissions near to blue light, a slight modification of the structures by extending conjugation may find important applications in optoelectronic devices as blue light emitters in organic light-emitting devices for the development of new generation organic semiconducting materials.

Keywords:

Organic Semiconducting Material, Knoevenagel Condensation, X-Ray Analysis, π-Conjugated Materials

1. Introduction

π-Conjugated systems are building blocks of organic semiconductors and have been of great interest due to their important applications in organic electronic circuits as semiconducting materials [1] - [7] . They have been used as semiconducting materials in organic photovoltaic cells, sensors, organic light-emitting diodes and organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) due to the offering of low-cost, large-area, and flexible electronic devices [8] [9] [10] [11] . N-type semiconductor materials are precise components in ambipolar transistors and complementary circuits [12] [13] . However, due to their limitations such as low air stability and difficult in design, synthesis these materials are being less explored. It has been documented that air stability and performance of n-type semiconducting material can be improved by substituting electron withdrawing groups such as fluorine, cyano, carbonyl etc. into the n-type semiconducting material [14] . It was reported that incorporation of electron withdrawing groups increases the air stability of their anions due to increase in electron affinity of materials, LUMO energy gap will be reduced [15] [16] [17] . Jones and co-workers have explored the n-type air stable perylenediimide derivatives by incorporating cyano (CN) and fluorine (F) substituent [18] [19] . Recently, we reported n-type transport characteristics of p-phenylenevinylene derivative of 3’,3’-(1,4-phenylene)bis{2’-(4’’-trifluoromethyl)phenyl}acrylonitorile having two cyano (CN) and two trifluoromethyl (CF₃) substituents [20] . We also reported the synthesis of 2,5-Difluoro-1,4-phenylene-bis{2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]acrylonitrile} and fabricated OFET using this compound exhibited good n-channel OTFT properties with high electron mobility [21] . Herein, we report the synthesis, crystal structure and photoelectronic properties of three π-conjugated heteroaromatic materials having pyridine, furan, and thiophene and cyano, fluorine as electron withdrawing substituents. We hope this structural-property study will provide better insight for material chemists in designing more efficient and air resistant organic semiconducting materials, which are strongly desired for next generation optoelectronic application.

2. Experimental

2.1. Materials and Methods

All reagents were purchased from TCI and Sigma Aldrich and used without further purification. All the products were characterized by ¹H NMR, EI-MS and X-ray diffraction analysis. The NMR spectrum was recorded on a Bruker AMX-500 MHz instrument (Bruker, Yokohama, Japan) at room temperature. Absorption spectrum was measured by using JASCO V-550 UV/VIS Spectrophotometer (JASCO Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) and Fluorescence spectrum was measured by using Hitachi F-2500 Fluorescence Spectrophotometer (Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). X-ray data for the compound were collected at room temperature using a Bruker Apex II KY CCD diffractometer with graphite monochromated MoKα radiation (λ = 0.71073 Å) with ω-scan method.

2.2. Synthesis of Compounds 3a, 3b and 3c

In a first Schlenk vessel 2,6-pyridine dicorboxaldehyde (1a) or 2,5-furan dicorboxaldehyde (1b) or 2,5-thiophene dicorboxaldehyde (1c) (680 mg, 0.40 mmol) and (4-trifluoromethyl)phenylacetonitrile 2 (740 mg, 0.40 mmol) were taken in absolute ethanol (50 mL). In a second Schlenk vessel, sodiumethoxide (0.400 g, 5.76 mmol) and freshly distilled dry pyridine (4.96 mmol, 0.40 mL) were taken in absolute ethanol (50 mL). The mixture was mixed and heated to reflux for 3 hours. Then, pyridine and volatiles were removed under reduced pressure. The residue was repeatedly extracted with small portions (15 mL) of dichloromethane. The organic layer was washed with water, dried over anhydrous MgSO₄, and then, filtered through a syringe filter. The extract was evaporated under reduced pressure to leave the residue affording the compounds 3a, 3b and 3c in quantitative yield.

3a ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ = 7.75 (4H, d, Ar-H), 7.78 (2H, s, CH=CN), 7.89 (4H, d, Ar-H), 7.98 1H, q, Ar-H), 8.04 (2H, s, Ar-H), 8.05 (2H, s-m, Ar-H); EI-MS: M⁺, 468.

3b ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ = 7.40 (2H, s, Ar-H), 7.52 (2H, s, CH=CN), 7.72 (2H, d, Ar-H), 7.80 (2H, d, Ar-H); EI-MS: M⁺, 457.

3c ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ = 7.72 (6H, m, Ar-H), 7.79 (4H, d, Ar-H), 7.88 (2H, s, CH=CN); EI-MS: M⁺, 473.

2.3. Single-Crystal X-Ray Analysis and Structure Determination

Crystallographic and structural refinement data for 3a, 3b and 3c summarized in Table 1. Single crystals of 3a, 3b and 3c were easily obtained at room temperature from a solution of dichloromethane using slow diffusion technique. Crystals of 3a, 3b and 3c measuring good dimensions were mounted on a glass fiber. The data were collected on a Bruker APEX II KY CCD diffractometer by using a graphite-monochromatized Mo/Kα radiation (λ = 0.71073 Å) and a nominal crystal-to-area detector distance of ca. 83 mm.

APEX2 software was used for preliminary determination of the unit cell. Determination of integral intensities [22] and unit cell refinement were performed using SAINT program [23] . And, data were corrected for absorption effects with SADABS using the empirical technique [24] . The structures were solved by the SHELXS-2014/7 direct method, and subsequent structure refinements were performed using SHELXL-2014/7.

3. Results and Discussion

The three n-type semiconducting materials 3a, 3b and 3c have been synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation of pyridine dicorboxaldehyde 1a, furan dicorboxaldehyde 1b, thiophene dicorboxaldehyde 1c with 4-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl acrylonitrile 2 in the presence of sodium ethoxide (Scheme 1, Scheme 2). Compounds 3a, 3b and 3c have been characterized with ¹H NMR and EI-MS.

Scheme 1. Schematic representation of synthesis of compound 3a.

Scheme 2. Schematic representation of synthesis of compound 3b and 3c.

Further to confirm the molecular structures of molecules 3a, 3b and 3c, suitable crystals for X-ray diffraction analysis were obtained by the slow evaporation of dichloromethane solution using slow diffusion method. The crystallographic details are summarized in Table 1. The compound 3a crystallizes with monoclinic crystal system, space group C2/c. The molecular structure of 3a was depicted in Figure 1.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound C₂₅H₁₃F₆N₃, contains one-half of the formula unit. The molecular structure appears to be planar from the top view. But, from the side view we can clearly see that three aromatic rings are slightly distorted from the planar geometry. Two aromatic ring planes, A (defined by C7, C8, C9, C10, C11, C12) and B (defined by N1, C1, C2, C3, C2, C1) were slightly leaned and the plane angles between two aromatic rings is 2.58˚ as shown in Figure 1. The two cyano groups, which are located in the same direction causes a deviation from planarity of the molecule 3a. Triple bond lengths of the cyano group was 1.145 (2) Å for C6N2. On the other hand, the bond angle consisting cyanoethenyl C-CN triple bond was slightly twisted, the angles is 173.95 (2)˚ for C5-C6-N2.

Crystal packing of the molecule 3a was also illustrated in Figure 2. Intermolecular short contacts of the molecule 3a were listed in Table 2. The molecular packing of the molecule 3a has layer like geometry. In the crystal packing diagram, C-H∙∙∙N and C∙∙∙C short contacts between the molecules generated three dimensional molecular networks.

The compound 3b crystallizes with triclinic crystal system, space group P-1. The molecular structure and packing diagram of 3b was depicted in Figure 3.

The molecule 3b appears to be planar from the top. But, from the side view clearly appears that molecule 3b is a strained one. Three aromatic ring planes, A (defined by C18, C19, C20, C21, C22, C23), B (defined by C1, C2, C3, C4, O1) and C (defined by C8, C9, C10, C11, C12, C13) were slightly leaned and the plane angles between three aromatic ring moieties are 5.67˚ for A-B, 25.27˚ for

A-C and 5.67˚ for B-C respectively as shown in Figure 1. The plane angel between the end phenyl rings is 25.27˚, this suggests that molecule 3b is a strained one. Triple bond lengths of the cyano groups were 1.137 (4) Å for C7N1 and 1.139 (4) Å for C17N2, respectively. The bond angle consisting cyanoethenyl C-CN triple bonds are slightly twisted, the angles are 177.78 (4)˚ for C6-C7-N1 and 179.2 (4)˚ for C16-C17-N2, respectively.

Crystal packing of the molecule 3b was also illustrated in Figure 4. Intermolecular short contacts of the molecule 3b were listed in Table 3. The molecular

packing of the molecule 3b has layer like geometry. In the crystal packing diagram C-H∙∙∙N, C-H∙∙∙F and C∙∙∙C short contacts between the molecules generated three dimensional molecular networks.

The compound 3c crystallizes with triclinic crystal system, space group P-1 with two moleucles and one benzene solvent molecule in the unit cell. The molecular structure and packing diagram of 3c was depicted in Figure 5.

The molecule 3c appears to be perfect planar from the top and side views. Three aromatic ring planes, A (defined by C8, C9, C10, C11, C12, C13), B (defined by C1, C2, C3, C4, S1) and C (defined by C18, C19, C20, C21, C22, C23) were slightly leaned (Figure 1) and the planeangles between three phenyl moieties are 2.11˚ for A-B, 6.42˚ for A-C and 7.92˚ for B-C respectively. The plane angel between the end phenyl rings is 7.92˚, this suggests that molecule 3b is less strained one than molecules 3a and 3b. Due to this reason electron carrier mobility of molecule 3c seems to be relatively good compared with the compounds 3a and 3b. Triple bond lengths of the cyano groups were 1.145 (3) Å for C17N1 and 1.147 (4) Å for C7N2, respectively. The bond angle consisting cyanoethenyl C-CN triple bonds are slightly twisted, the angles are 178.88 (2)˚ for C16-C17-N1 and 177.98 (2)˚ for C6-C7-N2, respectively.

Crystal packing of the molecule 3c was also illustrated in Figure 6. Intermolecular short contacts of the molecule 3c were listed in Table 4. In the crystal packing diagram C-H∙∙∙N, C-H∙∙∙F and C∙∙∙C short contacts between the molecules generated three dimensional molecular networks.

Further, the photophysical properties of molecules 3a, 3b and 3c, the UV-Vis

absorption and Fluorescence emission of the molecules 3a, 3b and 3c were measured in dichloromethane solution (1 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L), and their corresponding spectra were shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8, respectively. The molecules 3a, 3b and 3c displayed absorption maxima wavelength at 300, 419 and 418 nm, respectively.

The molar extinctinction coefficients (ε) of the compounds 3a, 3b and 3c were calculated as 2.4 × 10⁴ (300 nm), 4.9 × 10⁴ (419 nm) and 4.1 × 10⁴ (418 nm), L⋅mol⁻¹⋅cm⁻¹, respectively. As a basic rule, the molecule, which has higher extended π-conjugation shows better UV light absorbance. Conversely, molecule 3a, which has higher conjugated π-system has less absorbance than molecules 3b and 3c. This may be due to the relatively highly strained geometry of molecule 3a resulted in less π-orbital overlap. Among three molecules, 3b has better

ability to absorb UV light because two cyano groups in molecule 3b are far away to each other may be facilitated the effective π-orbital overlap.

The emission spectra of the molecules 3a, 3b and 3c were recorded in dichloromethane solution (1 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L), and their emission spectra is shown in Figure 8. Emission spectra of the complexes were measured by exciting the complexes at their absorption maxima wavelengths 300, 419 and 418 nm, respectively. Among three molecules, 3a has better fluorescence ability than molecule 3b and 3c. This may be due to the extended conjugation of molecule 3a due to pyridine moity than molecule 3b and 3c, which has furan and thiophene moity in their structures. Noteworthy points from the structural and photophysical properties are these compounds have emissions near to blue light. Further with slight modification of these structures by extending conjugation may find important applications in optoelectronic devices, such as blue emitters in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) for the development of new generation organic semiconducting materials.

Further, HOMO and LUMO energy level calculations of the π-systems of the compounds were carried out using density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP 6 - 31 G(d) level on SPARTAN16 Suite program [25] . Atomic coordinate data (x, y, z) of the X-ray analysis were used in calculations. The calculation results were HOMO −6.52 eV, LUMO −2.52 eV for 3a, HOMO −6.05 eV, LUMO −3.07 eV for 3b and HOMO −5.93 eV, LUMO −3.93 eV for 3c (Figure 9). The energy gaps were 3.79 eV for 3a, 3.88 eV for 3b and 3.73 eV for 3c. The low energy gaps suggest that that these compounds may be a promising new class of lead compounds for developing high performance semiconductor materials.

4. Conclusion

Three new -CF3, -CN containing π-conjugated heteroaromatic compounds consisting of pyridine 3a, furan 3b, and thiophene 3c have been synthesized and these compounds have been characterized by ¹H NMR, EI-MS and X-ray diffraction analysis. Molecules 3a, 3b and 3c showed strong absorption maxima wavelengths at 300, 419 and 418 nm, respectively. The molar extinction coefficients (ε) of the compounds 3a, 3b and 3c indicated molecule 3b has better ability to absorb UV light, molecule 3a has better fluorescence intensity than molecule 3b and 3c. Low energy gaps of HOMO and LUMO energy levels of these compounds suggest that these compounds may be a promising new class of lead compounds for developing high performance semiconductor materials. Compounds 3a, 3b and 3c has emissions near to blue light, a slight modification of the structures by extending conjugation may find important applications in optoelectronic devices as blue light emitters in organic light-emitting devices.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Center for Instrumental Analysis, Kyushu Institute of Technology (KITCIA) for the electron impact mass, ¹HNMR spectra and X-ray analysis. This research was financially supported by JSPS KAKENH Grant Number 15K05611.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Cite this paper

Moriguchi, T., Yakeya, D. and Jalli, V. (2018) Three New -CF3, -CN Containing π-Conjugated Heteroaromatic Compounds: Synthesis, Crystal structure and Photoelectronic Properties. Crystal Structure Theory and Applications, 7, 33-45. https://doi.org/10.4236/csta.2018.73003

References