Conjugated Hybrids: Functionalization of Polyaromatic and Pi-Conjugated Systems with Group 13 Elements

在这项由美国国家科学基金会化学部化学合成计划资助的项目中，Frieder Jaekle教授开发了包含13族缺电子元素(硼、铝、镓和铟)的新型共轭杂化材料。共轭有机材料在有机电子学、传感材料、超分子化学等领域有着广泛的应用。这项研究旨在利用主基化学领域的最新进展来开发新型的共轭杂化材料。有机硼烷基团提供电子受体效应，这在新的溶液-发光器件(LED)、场效应晶体管(FET)和光伏(OPV)的可加工材料-受体材料仍然需求很高的应用中很有用。此外，路易斯酸性有机硼化合物有望成为阴离子和其他有毒小分子的传感器。选择性的硼-硅和硼-锡交换化学、Lewis碱导向的亲电芳香族取代反应和形成硼阳离子的策略被用来制备新型的pi-共轭材料，这些材料有望表现出：(I)强烈的电子受体特性，(Ii)电荷转移和双光子吸收特性，以及(Iii)倾向于在表面组装或与其他碳纳米材料相互作用。该项目有助于在跨学科研究环境中培训不同的学生群体。特别注重对化学专业代表性不足群体的学生(例如美国化学协会项目种子高中生)的培训。学生们从与美国和德国物理化学家的合作中受益。此外，Jaekle教授还组织研讨会和会议，如一年一度的“美洲的硼”会议。

In this project funded by the Chemical Synthesis Program of the NSF Chemistry Division, Professor Frieder Jaekle develops new conjugated hybrid materials that contain electron-deficient Group 13 elements (boron, aluminum, gallium, and indium). Conjugated organic materials enjoy ubiquitous applications in organic electronics, sensory materials, and supramolecular chemistry. This research aims to take advantage of recent advances in the field of Main Group Chemistry for the development of new types of conjugated hybrid materials. Organoborane groups offer electron-acceptor effect that are useful in new solution-processible materials for light emitting devices (LEDs), field-effect transistors (FETs), and photovoltaics (OPVs) - applications where acceptor materials remain in high demand. In addition, Lewis acidic organoboranes show promise as sensors for anions and other toxic small molecules. Selective boron-silicon and boron-tin exchange chemistries, Lewis base-directed electrophilic aromatic substitutions, and strategies for borenium cation formation are exploited to prepare new classes of pi-conjugated materials that are expected to exhibit: (i) strong electron-acceptor character, (ii) charge transfer and two-photon absorption properties, and (iii) a propensity for assembly on surfaces or interaction with other carbon nanomaterials. The project contributes to the training of a diverse group of students in an interdisciplinary research environment. A special focus is placed on the training of students from groups underrepresented in chemistry (e.g. American Chemical Society Project SEED high school students). Students benefit from collaborations with physical chemists in the US and Germany. In addition, Professor Jaekle organizes symposia and conferences such as the annual "Boron in the Americas" meeting.