Tuning the electrochemical and optical properties of donor-acceptor D-A2-A1-A2-D derivatives with central benzothiadiazole core by changing the A2 strength

Abstract Two molecules named QXBT and BXBT with donor-acceptor D-A2-A1-A2-D type of structure were synthesized and characterized by means of electrochemical (Cyclic and Differential Pulse Voltammetry), spectroscopic and spectroelectrochemical (UV-Vis-NIR and Fluorescence and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance) techniques in order to evaluate the impact of different A2 acceptors on properties of such compounds with benzothiadiazole as A1 central core and alkylthiophene donor moieties. In the case of QXBT, the quinoxaline and in the BXBT molecule the benzoxadiazole serves as a A2 unit. The investigations have revealed that changing the A2 allows to tune the conjugation of molecules and affects not only reduction but oxidation process as well.