Symmetrical and unsymmetrical azomethines with thiophene core: structure–properties investigations

Abstract

Unsymmetrical and symmetrical azomethines were obtained using the condensation reaction of diamino-thiophene-3,4 dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester with 4-(1-pyrrolidino)benzaldehyde, fluorene-2-carboxaldehyde, 1-methylindole-3-carboxaldehyde, and benzothiazole-2-carboxaldehyde. Their thermal, optical, and electrochemical properties were investigated, and the results were supported by calculations using the density functional theory. The studied compounds melted in the range of 170–260 °C and can be converted into amorphous materials with high glass transition temperatures between 76 and 135 °C. They were thermally stable up to 220–300 °C. All imines were electrochemically active and exhibited low energy band gaps below 2 eV (except for one imine with Eg\u2009=\u20092.39 eV) determined on the basis of cyclic voltammetry. Most of the azomethines were emissive in solution and in the solid state. Some of them showed both S1 (first excited state) emission and S2 (second excited state) emission or only fluorescence from higher excited state, which is first time observed for azomethines. The imine with the most promising properties was tested in a light-emitting diode, and its ability for emission of light under external voltage was demonstrated.