Synthesis and Applications of π-Extended Naphthalene Diimides.

Naphthalene diimides have received much attention due to their high electron affinities, high electron mobility, and good thermal and oxidative stability, therefore making them promising candidates for a variety of organic electronic applications. However, π-extended naphthalene diimides with lower HOMO-LUMO gaps and higher stability have only been developed recently because of the synthetic difficulties. This account describes recent developments in the structures, synthesis, properties, and applications of π-extended naphthalene diimides, including pure-carbon and heterocyclic acene diimides, from our research group.