Spectroscopic properties of diketopyrrolopyrrole derivatives with long alkyl chains

Abstract The diketopyrrolopyrrole derivatives with long alkyl chains were synthesised and spectrally characterised. Experimental spectroscopic techniques were supplemented by the DFT calculations of equilibrium geometries, normal mode frequencies and time-dependent DFT simulated UV–vis spectra. Comparison between the symmetrical and unsymmetrical substitution of alkyl chains resulted in some changes like bathochromic shift of absorption, excitation and emission spectra, significant reduction of molar absorption coefficient in UV–vis range, increase of fluorescence quantum yield, and slight increase of fluorescence lifetimes. The influence of the length of the alkyl chain on the properties of material was also discussed. The experimental spectroscopic data together with the calculated results show that presence of the alkyl substituent at the nitrogen atom influences more on the properties of the investigated DPPs than the length of attached chain.