Synfacts 2010(5): 0536-0536  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1219679
Synthesis of Materials and Unnatural Products
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Furan Oligomers

Contributor(s): Timothy M. Swager, Birgit Esser
O. Gidron, Y. Diskin-Posner, M. Bendikov*
Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
22 April 2010 (online)

Significance

The synthesis of α-oligofurans with n = 5-9 is described. These π-conjugated molecules are of high interest in the design of solar cells, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Long α-­oligofurans had been considered unstable in the past regarding their electron-rich nature and have not been as extensively studied as their thiophene analogues. However, the newly described α-oligofurans show several advantages, such as higher solubility, better packing in the solid state, higher fluorescence, and greater rigidity.