Chemistry – An Asian Journal

1,1,4,4-Tetracyanobuta-1,3-dienyl porphyrins were prepared by the efficient [2+2] cycloaddition of tetracyanoethene (TCNE) or 7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p-quinodimethane (TCNQ) with meso-substituted trans-A₂B₂-porphyrins that contained two phenylethynyl groups, followed by a retro-electrocyclization reaction. Depending on the electronic properties of the arylethynyl groups, cycloaddition took place exclusively on either one or two ethynyl moieties.

Structure and solvent effects: Three novel triphenylamine dyes with different alkylthio-substituted thiophene bridges were synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The photovoltaic performances of the DSSCs showed a marked dependence on the bridge structure and solvent system due to the different amounts of dye adsorbed (see scheme).

Hop to it! The design and synthesis of three dicyanofluorene-based conjugated polymers and their optoelectronic properties including their electron-accepting and conducting properties are described (see scheme). Use of these polymers as n-type materials in all-polymer organic solar cells is explored in combination with poly(3-hexylthiophene).