Description of solution

Most commonly used acenes are tetracene (n=2) and pentacene (n=3). While longer linear acenes are expected to exhibit improved properties, their preparation has however proved highly challenging due to the instability of the formed products.

Professor Antonio M. Echavarren has recently developed a new strategy for the preparation of long linear polyacenes based on the on-surface dehydrogenation of a partially saturated linear polyacene compound readily accessible through available raw materials and transition metal catalysis (gold and palladium mediated processes).

Advantages and unique selling points

• Available catalyst: Commercial organometallic catalysts are used.
• Mild conditions: The key reactions of the process are carried out in mild conditions. They are carried at low temperature and low catalyst loadings.
• Suitable to further functionalization: The method exhibits a broad substrate scope and high functional group tolerance, which makes it suitable for further functionalization of reaction substrates.
• Several applications: Polyacenes have strong potential as supercapacitators, for applications in OFETs, TFTs, etc.