Synthesis and characterization of a class of donor-acceptor conjugated molecules: experiments and theoretical calculations

Abstract

A class of conjugated molecules containing donor (thiophene) and acceptor (malononitrile) is synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation reaction between 2-(2,6-dimethyl-4H-pyran-4-ylidene) malononitrile and thiophene carbaldehyde containing two and three thiophene units. The resulting molecules are characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR. We have performed UV-vis absorption, fluorescence, and cyclic voltammetry measurements on these materials. The spectroscopic and electrochemical measurements proved beyond doubt that these materials possess low excitation gap and are suitable for being an active material in various electronic devices. We have also performed electronic structure calculations using density functional theory (DFT) and INDO/SCI methods to characterize the ground and excited states of this class of molecules. These donor-acceptor molecules show a strong charge transfer character that increases with the increase in the number of thiophene rings coupled to the malononitrile acceptor moiety. We have also calculated the π-coherence length, Stoke's shift, and effect of solvents on excited states for this class of molecules. Our theoretical values agree well with experimental results.