Synthesis of Ladder-Type Thienoacenes and Their Electronic and Optical Properties

A series of ladder-type thienoacenes based on benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene (BDT) have been synthesized and characterized. They were shown to be p-type semiconductors with wide band gaps and able to support multiple stable cationic states. As the conjugation lengthens, these oligomers become more emissive, showing high quantum yields. They were shown to be good two-photon absorbers, exhibiting high two-photon absorption coefficients.