Consecutive Thiophene-Annulation Approach to π-Extended Thienoacene-Based Organic Semiconductors with [1]Benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (BTBT) Substructure

We describe a new synthetic route to the [1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (BTBT) substructure featuring two consecutive thiophene-annulation reactions from o-ethynyl-thioanisole substrates and arylsulfenyl chloride reagents that can be easily derived from arylthiols. The method is particularly suitable for the synthesis of unsymmetrical derivatives, e.g., [1]benzothieno[3,2-b]naphtho[2,3-b]-thiophene, [1]benzothieno[3,2-b]anthra[2,3-b]thiophene, and naphtho[3,2-b]thieno[3,2-b]anthra[2,3-b]thiophene, a selenium-containing derivative, [1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]-benzoselenophene. It also allows us to access largely pi-extended derivatives with two BTBT substructures, e.g., bis[1]benzothieno[2,3-d:2',3'-d]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b]dithiophene and bis[l]benzothieno[2,3-d:2',3'-d]naphtho[2,3-b:6,7-b]dithiophene (BBTNDT). It should be emphasized that these new BTBT derivatives are otherwise difficult to be synthesized. In addition, since various substrates and reagents, o-ethynyl-thioanisoles and arylthiols, respectively, can be combined, the method can be regarded as a versatile tool for the development of thienoacene-based organic semiconductors in this class. Among the newly synthesized materials, highly pi-extended BBTNDT afforded very high mobility (>5 cm(2) V-1 s(-1)) in its vapor-deposited organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), which is among the highest for unsubstituted acene- or thienoacenes-based organic semiconductors. In fact, the structural analyses of BBTNDT both in the single crystal and thin-film state indicated that an interactive two-dimensional molecular array is realized in the solid state, which rationalize the higher carrier mobility in the BBTNDT-based OFETs.