title: Tetracyano isoindigo small molecules and their use in n-channel organic field-effect transistors.
abstract: N,N'-Dihexyl-6,6'-dicyanoisoindigo, N,N'-didecyl-5,5',6,6'-tetracyanoisoindigo, N,N'-dihexyl-5,5',6,6'-tetracyanoisoindigo, and N,N'-dihexyl-5,5',6,6'-tetracyanothienoisoindigo have been synthesised in moderate yields by the reaction of corresponding di and tetrabromo species with CuCN, with microwave heating leading to higher yields and fewer side products for the tetrasubstituted species. Di- and tetracyano substitution anodically shifts the molecular reduction potential relative to the unsubstituted cores by ca. 0.4 and 0.8 V, respectively, with the resultant values for the tetracyano derivatives (-0.58 to -0.67 V vs. FeCp2(+/0)) suggesting the possibility of air-stable electron transport. All the synthesised cyano derivatives operate in n-channel OFETs, while the tetrabromothienoisoindigo derivative functions in a p-channel transistor. The tetracyanothienoisoindigo derivative exhibits the highest field-effect electron mobility values - up to 0.04 and 0.09 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) in spin-coated and inkjet-printed devices respectively - and OFETs incorporating this compound have been shown to operate in air without significant degradation of their mobility values in the saturation regime.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics (COPE), Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0400, USA. seth.marder@chemistry.gatech.edu.
authors.forename: Raghunath R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Dasari
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dindar
authors.forename: Chi Kin
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Cheng-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Cassandre
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quinton
authors.forename: Sanjeev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barlow
authors.forename: Canek
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fuentes-Hernandez
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kippelen
authors.forename: Seth R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Marder