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Abstract: Two low bandgap conjugated polymers containing vinylene unit on their main chains, poly(dithienosilole vinylene) derivatives P1 and P2, were synthesized by Pd-catalyzed Stille-coupling method. The two polymers show good solubility in common organic solvents, broad absorption bands from 500nm to 700nm and lower energy bandgap of 1.72eV for P1 and 1.77eV for P2. The electronic energy levels of the polymers were measured by electrochemical cyclic voltammetry. The HOMO and LUMO energy levels of P1 and P2 are at −5.03eV, −5.18eV and −3.39eV, −3.43eV, respectively. The polymers P1 and P2 containing dithienosilole units show lower HOMO and LUMO energy levels, in comparison with other poly(thienylene vinylene) derivatives. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of five symmetrical and four unsymmetrical diaryl substituted diketo-pyrrolo-pyrroles was synthesized; two unsymmetrical derivatives are reported for the first time. The relationship between the theoretical excitation energies of the S0 → S1 transition, computed by time dependent density functional theory and the experimental positions of 0–0 vibronic bands in the visible absorption (or fluorescence excitation) spectra was studied. Experimental data were obtained from either solution or from low temperature organic solvent glass, in which the progressions of the vibrational structure enabled correct assignment of vibronic sub-bands in some cases. Theoretical calculations predicted that a linear bathochromic and hyperchromic shift would accompany substitution of each phenyl in the parent 3,6-diphenyl-2,5-dihydro-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-dione by providing a more extensively conjugated aryl centre (2-naphthyl, biphenyl, stilbenyl) for the ensuing planar derivatives. Qualitatively, the experimental bathochromic shifts of the 0–0 vibronic sub-bands were in exact agreement with theory, whilst hyperchromic shifts were affected by the very low solubility of the planar, symmetrical derivatives. Deviations from this ideal behaviour were observed for non-planar derivatives (aryl = stilbenyl or 1-naphthyl), for which the dihedral angles describing the aryl, out-of-plane torsions were probably underestimated by DFT. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]