Conjugated 4-methoxybipyrrole thiophene azomethines: synthesis, opto-electronic properties, and crystallographic characterization.

In the search of functional materials with improved electrochromic properties, thiophenes and asymmetric bipyrroles have been conjugated with azomethine units. 4-Methoxy-2,2'-bipyrroles 3-6 were first synthesized by a general route from 4-hydroxyproline and converted subsequently to dialdehydes 8-15, which underwent condensations with different aminothiophenes to provide azomethine conjugates 14-18 and 20-22. The crystallization and X-ray analysis of 20 showed the heterocycles and azomethine bonds were all co-planar with the heterocycles adopting an anti-parallel arrangement. These configurations result in extended conjugation and enhanced opto-electronic properties of the azomethines. Oxidation potential (E(pa)) was tailored by modification of the substitution pattern of the terminal thiophenes and central pyrroles of the azomethines. The combined low E(pa) and extended azomethine degree of conjugation resulted in stark color transitions occurring between their neutral and oxidized states. Reversible color formation was induced both electrochemically and by doping/de-doping with trifluoroacetic acid/triethylamine.