Synthesis of oligo(phenylene ethynylene)s with dendrimer "shells" for molecular electronics
Two series of oligo(phenylene ethynylene)s (OPEs) with different dendrimer side groups have been designed and synthesized. The molecules contain thiol groups at both ends to enable interconnection between nanoscale gapped metallic electrodes. The different dendrimer groups act as "shells", allowing tailoring to the nanoscopic environment surrounding the OPE "core". Meanwhile, the dendrimer shells also act as spacers for the precise control of the packing density and intermolecular interaction between the OPE cores.
Quinones 1a-q and DCNQIs 2a-g have been synthesized in order to investigate substituent effects.It was necessary to employ novel synthetic routes for the introduction of iodine into 1f (7), the trifluoromethyl group into 1g-i, deuterium into 1m-p, and esp